Hypothesis: HPV E6 and COVID spike proteins cooperate in targeting tumor suppression by p53

Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a causative agent in several cancers including cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, anal cancer, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers. HPV through its virus-encoded protein E6 and the cellular E6-Associated Protein (E6-AP) target the tumor suppressor p53 protein for degradation thereby contributing to cancer development after HPV infection. As viruses cause cancer, the author previously hypothesized that SARS-COV-2 virus may be associated with cancer. More recent insights on the present hypothesis have come from studies suggesting (1) Spike protein of SARS-COV-2 may suppress p53 function, (2) cancer has been associated with mRNA vaccines that produce Spike, and (3) a case mentioned by Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong of a patient who survived HPV-associated head and neck cancer, but the tumor recurred after COVID mRNA vaccination including with liver metastases. Thus, the present hypothesis is that virally encoded proteins such as HPV-E6 or SARS-COV-2 Spike may cooperate in suppressing host defenses including tumor suppressor mechanisms involving p53. The hypothesis can be further explored through epidemiologic and laboratory studies.