Human papilloma virus(HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus, which was divided into low-risk and high risk according to the degree of malignancy with epithelial damage. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is the most important factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) and 75% high-risk HPV16 can be detected in OSCC. The complete genome of HPV was divided into early region(E region), late region, and non-coding regulatory region. E region coded 8 genes are called E1-E8. HPV16E5 gene causes cell fusion and the formation of double-nucleated cells, which is a portent of cancer. Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) is the key for mechanism of HPV16E5 protein, which controls the process of cell growth and proliferation. EGFR occasionally overexpresses in tumor cells, and some anti-cancer drugs can provide cancer therapy by inhibiting EGFR expression. In the cyclooxygenase(COX) of the human body, 2 is a kind of enzyme that can promote cell proliferation, inhibit programmed cell death, promote angiogenesis, HPV16E5, and EGFR synergistic induction COX2 protein expression, and participate in the process of malignant transformation of tumor. Thispaper focusesthe on relationship between HPV and oral cancer and reviews the function of HPV16E5 gene.
