Human Papillomavirus Epidemiology and Prevention: Is There Still a Gender Gap?

The Role of Oncogenic Viruses in the Pathogenesis of Sporadic Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Literature

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in the female sex; although recent therapies have significantly changed the natural history of this cancer, it remains a significant challenge. In the past decade, evidence has been put forward that some oncogenic viruses may play a role in the development of sporadic breast cancer; however, data are scattered and mostly reported as sparse case series or small case-control studies. In this review, we organize and report current evidence regarding the role of high-risk human papillomavirus, mouse mammary tumor virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, bovine leukemia virus, human polyomavirus 2, and Merkel cell polyomavirus in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Efficacy of LCMV-based cancer immunotherapies is unleashed by intratumoral injections of polyI:C

BACKGROUND

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) belongs to the Arenavirus family known for inducing strong cytotoxic T-cell responses in both mice and humans. LCMV has been engineered for the development of cancer immunotherapies, currently undergoing evaluation in phase I/II clinical trials. Initial findings have demonstrated safety and an exceptional ability to activate and expand tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Combination strategies to maximize the antitumor effectiveness of LCMV-based immunotherapies are being explored.

METHODS

We assessed the antitumor therapeutic effects of intratumoral administration of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) and systemic vaccination using an LCMV-vector expressing non-oncogenic versions of the E6 and E7 antigens of human papillomavirus 16 (artLCMV-E7E6) in a bilateral model engrafting TC-1/A9 cells. This cell line, derived from the parental TC-1, exhibits low MHC class I expression and is highly immune-resistant. The mechanisms underlying the combination's efficacy were investigated through bulk RNA-seq, flow cytometry analyses of the tumor microenvironment, selective depletions using antibodies and clodronate liposomes, Batf3 deficient mice, and in vivo bioluminescence experiments. Finally, we assessed the antitumor effectiveness of the combination of artLCMV-E7E6 with BO-112, a GMP-grade poly(I:C) formulated in polyethyleneimine, currently under evaluation in clinical trials.

RESULTS

Intratumoral injection of poly(I:C) enhanced the antitumor efficacy of artLCMV-E7E6 in both injected and non-injected tumor lesions. The combined treatment resulted in a significant delay in tumor growth and often complete eradication of several tumor lesions, leading to significantly improved survival compared with monotherapies. While intratumoral administration of poly(I:C) did not impact LCMV vector biodistribution or transgene expression, it significantly modified leucocyte infiltrates within the tumor microenvironment and amplified systemic efficacy through proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines such as CCL3, CCL5, CXCL10, TNF, IFNα, and IL12p70. Upregulation of MHC on tumor cells and a reconfiguration of the gene expression programs related to tumor vasculature, leucocyte migration, and the activation profile of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes were observed. Indeed, the antitumor effect relied on the functions of CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages. The synergistic efficacy of the combination was further confirmed when BO-112 was included.

CONCLUSION

Intratumoral injection of poly(I:C) sensitizes MHClow tumors to the antitumor effects of artLCMV-E7E6, resulting in a potent therapeutic synergy.

CRISPR-Based Multiplex Detection of Human Papillomaviruses for One-Pot Point-of-Care Diagnostics

The World Health Organization's global initiative toward eliminating high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV)-related cancers recommends DNA testing over visual inspection in all settings for primary cancer screening and HPV eradication by 2100. However, multiple hrHPV types cause different types of cancers, and there is a pressing need for an easy-to-use, multiplex point-of-care diagnostic platform for detecting different hrHPV types. Recently, CRISPR-Cas systems have been repurposed for point-of-care detection. Here, we established a CRISPR-Cas multiplexed diagnostic assay (CRISPRD) to detect cervical cancer-causing hrHPVs in one reaction (one-pot assay). We harnessed the compatibility of thermostable AapCas12b, TccCas13a, and HheCas13a nucleases with isothermal amplification and successfully detected HPV16 and HPV18, along with an internal control in a single-pot assay with a limit of detection of 10 copies and 100% specificity. This platform offers a rapid and practical solution for the multiplex detection of hrHPVs, which may facilitate large-scale hrHPV point-of-care screening. Furthermore, the CRISPRD platform programmability enables it to be adapted for the multiplex detection of any two nucleic acid biomarkers as well as internal control.