While extensive research has already established a clear association between high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and various cancers, including the cervix, head and neck, the role of HPV infection in the oesophagus is much less clear in terms of cancer and is especially understudied in non-cancerous tissue. 

A PhD research study between Kingston University and Kingston Hospital, funded by Kingston Hospital Charity with the support of the Laurie Todd Foundation, is seeking to investigate HPV infection in non-cancerous tissues, as this could provide vital insights into early viral activity and its potential role in the first stages of cancer development. While the PhD study is due to be completed in the autumn of 2025, research findings so far have been promising and were recently published in the prestigious International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

The study highlights HPV’s significant impact on the oesophagus, suggesting that even non-cancerous oesophageal tissue may be subjected to factors that push normal cells to become cancerous, due to HPV infection.

To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to compare gene expression in HPV-negative and HPV-positive non-cancerous oesophageal tissue, providing insights into the molecular alterations induced by early HPV infection.

Dr Hossein Ashrafi, Associate Professor in Cancer Biology at Kingston University’s Department of Biomolecular Sciences, said: “We are very excited that our groundbreaking research findings have been accepted and published in the prestigious and high-ranked Q1 Journal, the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. It is our hope that these findings will inspire further research to understand the role HPV may play in the development of oesophageal cancer, as part of wider efforts to improve survival rates for those diagnosed with this condition.”