Exploring the Association between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Breast Carcinoma: A review

Abstract

Anal, cervical, and oropharyngeal malignancies are all known to be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, its exact function in Breast Cancer (BC) is still up for debate. Findings from a systematic literature search shed light on the possible link between HPV and BC. There could be a connection amongst HPV infection and the development of BC, as several works have shown HPV DNA in breast carcinoma tissues. There has been some conflicting evidence on the nature of the link between HPV and BC; some research has found the virus, while others have not. Different studies have shown different patterns of HPV genotypes in BC tissue; some have identified high-risk genotypes like HPV-16 and HPV-18, while others have shown a broad range of genotypes without any discernible pattern. To explain the significance of HPV in BC cases, better-designed research with bigger sample numbers and rigorous methodology are required.