Evaluation of human papillomavirus as a risk factor in prostate cancer pathogenesis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent and leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in most countries around the world, with sub-Saharan Africa being among the most severely affected regions. Indeed, PCa is more common and lethal in indigenous African men, African Americans, and Afro-Caribbean men as compared to their age-matched white counterparts. While the fundamental aetiology of PCa and the role of androgen signalling are well understood, the basis of this racial disparity in PCa incidence and progression remains poorly understood. In this review we revisit the potential association of human papilloma virus (HPV) and PCa. While several studies support an association between HPV and PCa progression and aggressiveness, the importance of HPV in PCa is not without controversy. Here we evaluate studies that both support and challenge a mechanistic role for HPV in PCa and discuss limitations of these studies. We offer suggestions for future studies to address the contribution of HPV to the racial disparity in PCa incidence and outcomes.