Identification of novel genomic structures and regulation patterns at HPV integration events in cervical cancer

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary driver of cervical cancer. We sequenced whole genomes of 66 cervical cancers from Uganda (HTMCP) and the USA (TCGA) on the PromethION to identify the genomic consequences of HPV integration. We were able to classify integration events into six categories based on their structure and impact on the human genome. DNA methylation was studied on the human and viral regions around the integration; the integrated HPV genome was hypermethylated when compared to episomal HPV, but the degree of methylation varied by HPV type. Haplotype-resolved genomes and methylomes have enabled a detailed view of the structure and function of HPV integration events.

To learn more about other applications of nanopore sequencing in cancer research, click here.