Research Project
Full description Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arises through distinct molecular and immunological mechanisms. This project investigates how persistent epithelial expression of the HPV16 E7 oncogene alters the oral epithelial and local immune environment before tumour development and modifies the subsequent response to chemical carcinogenesis. Using wild-type and K14E7 transgenic mice, including male and female animals, oral carcinogenesis was induced using 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO). The model was characterised using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and transcriptomic analyses to examine epithelial proliferation, immune composition and gene-expression programmes associated with HPV16 E7 expression, carcinogen exposure and biological sex.