Malignancy associated with Low-Risk HPV6 and HPV11: a systematic review and implications for cancer prevention

Abstract

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) helps prevent cancer caused by this virus. Determining which viral genotypes should be included is key for developing successful vaccination strategies. Low-risk genotypes, especially HPV6 and HPV11, are associated with benign warts. However, some studies also report their presence in cancers. We reviewed the scientific literature to estimate the proportion of cancers that bear single or dual HPV6/11 infections. HPV6 and HPV11 have been reported in up to 5.5% of penile and 87.5% of laryngeal cancers; however, they have not been reported in vulvar, vaginal or oral cancers. Next, we compared the HPV6/11 genomes with HPV16, the most common high-risk HPV genotype, and observed that the similarities mainly involved the E7 gene, suggesting a limited ability to interfere with the differentiation of the host cells. These findings support the use of HPV vaccines that cover HPV6/11 not only for preventing genital warts but also for preventing specific types of cancers.