Diverse tumorigenic consequences of human papillomavirus integration in primary oropharyngeal cancers

David E. Symer, Keiko Akagi, Heather M. Geiger, Yang Song, Gaiyun Li, Anne Katrin Emde, Weihong Xiao, Bo Jiang, André Corvelo, Nora C. Toussaint, Jingfeng Li, Amit Agrawal, Enver Ozer, Adel K. El-Naggar, Zoe Du, Jitesh B. Shewale, Birgit Stache-Crain, Mark Zucker, Nicolas Robine, Kevin R. CoombesMaura L. Gillison

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 5% of all cancers and frequently integrates into host chromosomes. The HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 are necessary but insufficient for cancer formation, indicating that additional secondary genetic events are required. Here, we investigate potential oncogenic impacts of virus integration. Analysis of 105 HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers by whole-genome sequencing detects virus integration in 77%, revealing five statistically significant sites of recurrent integration near genes that regulate epithelial stem cell maintenance (i.e., SOX2, TP63, FGFR, MYC) and immune evasion (i.e., CD274). Genomic copy number hyperamplification is enriched 16-fold near HPV integrants, and the extent of focal host genomic instability increases with their local density. The frequency of genes expressed at extreme outlier levels is increased 86-fold within ±150 kb of integrants. Across 95% of tumors with integration, host gene transcription is disrupted via intragenic integrants, chimeric transcription, outlier expression, gene breaking, and/or de novo expression of noncoding or imprinted genes. We conclude that virus integration can contribute to carcinogenesis in a large majority of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers by inducing extensive disruption of host genome structure and gene expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)55-70
Number of pages16
JournalGenome Research
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

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