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Cologne, Germany, 2025-12-29 – A new research project at the University Hospital of Cologne is investigating the role of HPV DNA integration in the progression of throat tumors.
Researchers are studying how the insertion of human papillomavirus DNA into the human genome affects the development of oropharyngeal cancer, a growing health concern worldwide.
- The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the three-year project.
- Researchers will use a new sequencing method to map HPV integration patterns in tissue samples.
- the goal is to identify biomarkers for predicting relapse and tailoring cancer treatment.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding a research project at the University Hospital of cologne to study how the integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA into the human genome influences the progression of tumors in the throat, according to a statement from the DFG.
Head and neck tumors are among the most common cancers globally, and a rising number of these cases are linked to infections with high-risk HPV, particularly type 16. These HPV-positive tumors of the oropharynx (OPSCC) are biologically distinct from tumors typically caused by smoking and alcohol and generally respond better to treatment, the DFG stated. though, some patients still experiance relapse or metastasis despite an initially favorable prognosis, and the reasons for this remain unclear.
The ORO-HPV-INT Project
The project, titled “ORO-HPV-INT Project: Is the integration of HPV DNA into the host genome associated with disease progression in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma?” is led by Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christian U. Hübbers and Univ.-Prof.Dr. Jens Peter Klussmann of the Clinic and polyclinic for ear, nose and throat medicine, head and neck surgery at the University Hospital of Cologne. Dr. Kerstin Becker from the cologne Center for Genomics (CCG) will support the team with genome sequencing and data analysis.
Researchers will employ a modern sequencing technique called Targeted locus Capture (TLC) to pinpoint exactly were HPV DNA integrates within the human genome, using routinely collected tissue samples (FFPE). These samples are valuable because they are readily available from clinical practice, providing access to data from a large number of patients, according to the DFG.
the research team aims to determine if specific integration patterns correlate with a higher risk of relapse or a diffrent response to therapy. Ultimately, the project seeks to develop biomarker-based risk profiles for HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors, perhaps leading to more personalized and less aggressive treatment strategies.
Why It Matters
This research represents a critically important step toward understanding the complex relationship between HPV integration and cancer progression. While HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers generally have a better prognosis than those caused by customary risk factors, relapse remains a concern. Identifying specific genomic integration patterns could allow clinicians to more accurately assess a patient’s risk and tailor treatment accordingly. This could lead to avoiding needless, aggressive therapies for patients with low risk profiles and intensifying treatment for those at higher risk of recurrence. The use of existing, routinely collected tissue samples also makes this research particularly efficient and scalable, potentially accelerating the translation of findings into clinical practice.
Time.news based this report on facts provided by the German Research Foundation and the University Hospital of Cologne.
