Human Papillomavirus and Prostate Cancer: A Controversial Association.

Sara Sá, Mariana Sousa, Ana Cláudia Pereira, Pilar Baylina, Fátima Cerqueira

Journal: Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) 2026;15(10):

PMID: 42931222

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus which infection can be asymptomatic or appear as mucosal lesions. HPV infection is estimated to contribute to approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide and is strongly associated with the development of most cervical cancers, as well as a substantial proportion of oropharyngeal, penile, and vulvar cancers. The viral HPV proteins E6 and E7 promote the development of tumour cells by disturbing the cellular signalling pathways involving the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and cellular tumour antigen p53. Due to the established role of HPV in several anogenital cancers, a possible association between HPV infection and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has also been investigated. Recent studies and meta-analyses have reported an association between HPV infection and PCa in some populations. However, the available evidence remains inconsistent, and HPV infection cannot currently be considered an established risk factor for PCa. Further studies are needed to determine whether HPV infection plays a causal role in prostate carcinogenesis and whether HPV detection has clinical or prognostic utility in PCa.

Address: FP-BHS-Biomedical and Health Sciences Research Unit, FP-I3ID-Institute for Research, Innovation, and Development, FFP-Fundação Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; Epidemiology, Outcomes, Economics and Management in Oncology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPO Porto), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.; Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.; RISE-Associate Laboratory (Health Research Network), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.; Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.; FP-BHS-Biomedical and Health Sciences Research Unit, FP-I3ID-Institute for Research, Innovation, and Development, FFP-Fundação Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; FCS-Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; FP-BHS-Biomedical and Health Sciences Research Unit, FP-I3ID-Institute for Research, Innovation, and Development, FFP-Fundação Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; School of Health, Technical University of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.; FP-BHS-Biomedical and Health Sciences Research Unit, FP-I3ID-Institute for Research, Innovation, and Development, FFP-Fundação Fernando Pessoa, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; RISE-Associate Laboratory (Health Research Network), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.; Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.; FCS-Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.; RISE-Health, University Fernando Pessoa, 4200-150, Porto, Portugal.; Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center (CI-IPOP), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.

DOI: 10.3390/pathogens15101070

MeSH Terms: Humans, Male, Prostatic Neoplasms, Papillomavirus Infections, Human Papillomavirus Viruses, Risk Factors