Therapeutic Targeting of EZH2 in HPV #TopTeachers
Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains one of the most prevalent oncogenic viral infections worldwide, strongly associated with cervical cancer and a significant proportion of anogenital and oropharyngeal malignancies. High-risk HPV types, particularly HPV16 and HPV18, contribute to carcinogenesis through the persistent expression of viral oncoproteins such as E6 and E7. These viral proteins interfere with critical tumor suppressor pathways, including p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb), thereby disrupting cell cycle regulation, promoting genomic instability, and enabling uncontrolled cellular proliferation. While prophylactic vaccines have greatly reduced new infections in vaccinated populations, millions of individuals already infected with high-risk HPV lack effective targeted therapies. This therapeutic gap has driven growing interest in epigenetic regulators that sustain HPV-driven oncogenesis, including the enzyme EZH2. EZH2, or Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2, is a catalytic subunit of th...