Focused Research Theme – Human Tumor Virology

Focused Research Theme – Human Tumor Virology

Introduction

Cancer is still a leading cause of death, and about 20% of human cancers are caused by viruses. The CUHK Department of Microbiology has a strong research interest in Human Tumour Virology, especially in topics related to human papillomavirus (HPV). The research group was established in 1997 and has evolved into a multidisciplinary research team involving gynae-oncologists, rheumatologists, pathologists, epidemiologists, public health, social hygiene and primary care specialists.

Group LeaderProf. Paul KS Chan
MembersProf. Zigui Chen
Prof. Siaw Shi Boon
Ms. Apple CM Yeung
Ms. Wendy CS Ho
CollaboratorsChinese University of Hong Kong:
Dr. Tak H Cheung and Dr. So F Yim, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Prof. Martin CS Wong, Prof. Albert Lee, Prof. Carmen Wong, Prof. Eliza Wong, Prof. Joseph Lau, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care
Prof. KF To and Dr. Mei Y Yu, Department of Anatomical & Cellular Pathology
Prof. Edmund Li and Prof. Lai S Tam, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics
Prof. Alexander C Vlantis, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

Hong Kong:
Dr. May YM Chan and Dr. William WH Li, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Dr. King Man Ho and Dr. Nai M Luk, Social Hygiene Service, Department of Health Dr. Ting T Wong, The Breast Surgery, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Dr. Eddy Lam, Department of ENT, Yan Chi Hospital

Overseas:
Prof. Jong-Sup Park, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Prof. Lucia Giovannelli, Sezione di Microbiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico P. Giaccone, Palermo, Italy
Dr. María Alejandra Picconi, Servicio Virus Oncogénicos, Departamento Virología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dr. Lawrence Banks and Dr. David Pim, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy2
Dr. Federico De Marco, Laboratory of Virology – The “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
Prof. Ryo Konno, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
Dr Vjekoslav Tomaić, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia.
Prof. Liu Zheng, Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen).
Previous research topics:
Age-specific prevalence and risk factors of HPV infection in Hong Kong and Macao.
HPV type distribution across cervical lesion grades and women groups.
Trend of change in HPV type distribution in invasive cervical cancer over time.
Epidemiology of HPV infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematous.
Trend of change in HPV type distribution in invasive cervical cancer over time.
Association between HLA polymorphism, HPV types and risk of cervical cancer.
Viral integration and methylation events in the progress of cervical lesions
The unique epidemiology of HPV52 and HPV58 in Asia.
Lineage classification system for HPV58 variants.
Geographical distribution and risk association HPV58 variants.
T-cell epitopes of HPV52 and HPV58.
Channels for HPV vaccine delivery.
Knowledge, attitude and acceptance for HPV vaccine.
Ongoing research topics:
Epidemiology of oral HPV infection
Prevalence and characteristics of HPV infection in head and neck cancers in Hong Kong.
Role of HPV infection in the development of esophageal cancer.
Geographical distribution and risk association HPV52 variants.
Co-factors in the development of virus-associated cancers.

  1. Li S, Yim MK, Yip KL, Xiao C, Luk HY, Xiao S, Chen Z, Chan PKS, Boon SS. E6-encoded by cancer-causing human papillomavirus interacts with Aurora kinase A to promote HPV-mediated carcinogenesis. Journal of Virology. 2023. 97(2):e01872-22.
  2. Boon SS, Lee YCL, Yip KL, Luk HY, Xiao C, Yim MK, Chen Z, Chan PKS. Human papillomavirus-encoded E6 protein exploits AurB for carcinogenesis – a potential target of intervention. Cancers 2023, 15:2456.
  3. Xia C, Xiao C, Luk HY, Chan PKS, Boon SS. The ubiquitin specific protease 7 stabilizes HPV16E7 to promote HPV-mediated carcinogenesis. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 2023. 80:278.
  4. Boon SS, Xia C, Lim JY, Chen Z, Law PTY, Yeung CMA, Thomas M, Banks L, Chan PKS. Human papillomavirus 58 E7 T20I/G63S variant isolated from East Asian population possesses high oncogenicity. Journal of Virology 2020;94(8):e00090-20.
  5. Zhang C, Park JS, Grce M, Hibbitts S, Palefsky JM, Konno R, Smith-McCune KK, Giovannelli L, Chu TY, Picconi MA, Piña-Sánchez P, Settheetham-Ishida W, Coutlée F, De Marco F, Woo YL, Ho WC, Wong MC, Chirenje MZ, Magure T, Moscicki AB, Sabol I, Fiander AN, Chen Z,Chan MC, Cheung TH, Burk RD, Chan PK. Geographical distribution and risk association of human papillomavirus genotype 52-variant lineages. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2014 May 30. pii: jiu310. [Epub ahead of print]
  6. Chan PKS*, Zhang C, Park JS, Smith-McCune KK, Palefsky JM, Giovannelli L, Coutlée F, Hibbitts S, Konno R, Settheetham-Ishida W, Chu TY, Ferrera A, Alejandra Picconi M, De Marco F, Woo YL, Raiol T, Piña-Sánchez P, Bae JH, Wong MC, Chirenje MZ, Magure T, Moscicki AB, Fiander AN, Capra G, Young Ki E, Tan Y, Chen Z, Burk RD, Chan MC, Cheung TH, Pim D, Banks L. Geographical distribution and oncogenic risk association of human papillomavirus type 58 E6 and E7 sequence variations. International Journal of cancer. 2013; 132: 2528-2536.
  7. Chan PKS*, Picconi MA, Cheung TH, Giovannelli L, Park JS. Laboratory and clinical aspects of human papillomavirus testing. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences 2012; 49: 117-136.
  8. Chan PKS*. Human papillomavirus type 58: the unique role in cervical cancers in East Asia. Cell and Bioscience 2012; 2:17.
  9. Sham CL, To KF, Chan PKS, Lee DLY, Tong MCF, van Hasselt A*. Prevalence of human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, p21, and p53 expression in sinonasal inverted papillomas, nasal polyp, and hypertrophied turbinate in Hong Kong patients. Head and Neck 2012; 34: 520-533.
  10. Lee A*, Chan PKS, Lau LCH, Chan TTN. How would family physicians facilitate the uptake of HPV vaccination: focus group study on parents and single women in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Practitioner 2011; 33: 107-114.
  11. Chan PKS*, Cheung TH, Li WH, Yu MY, Chan MY, Yim SF, Ho WC, Yeung AC, Ho KM, Ng HK. Attribution of human papillomavirus types to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancers in Southern China. International Journal Cancer. 2012; 131: 692-705.
  12. Leung WY*, Chan PKS, Lau KH, Ho KM. The prevalence of human papilloma virus in the anal region of male Chinese attendees in three public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2011; 19: 6-13.
  13. Chan PKS*, Luk AC, Park JS, Smith-McCune KK, Palefsky JM, Konno Y, Giovannelli L, Coutlée F, Hibbitts S, Chu TY, Settheetham-Ishida W, Picconi MA, Ferrera A, De Marco F, Woo YL, Raiol T, Piña-Sánchez P, Cheung JLK, Bae JH, Chirenje MZ, Magure T, Moscicki AB, Fiander AN, Di Stefano R, Cheung TH, Yu MM, Tsui SK, Pim D, Banks L. Identification of human papillomavirus type 58 lineages and the distribution worldwide. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2011; 203: 1565-1573.
  14. Chan PKS*, Liu SJ, Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Yeo W, Chong P, Man S. T-cell response to human papillomavirus type 52 L1, E6, and E7 peptides in women with transient infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and invasive cancer. Journal of Medical Virology 2011; 83:1023-1030.
  15. Yip YC, Ngai KLK, Vong HT, Tzang LCH, Ji S, Yang M, Chan PKS*. Prevalence and genotype distribution of cervical human papillomavirus infection in Macao. Journal of Medical Virology 2010; 82: 1724-1729.
  16. Hlaing T, Yip YC, Ngai KL, Vong HT, Wong SI, Ho WC, Batalha SL, Chan PKS*. Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes among cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancers in Macao. Journal of Medical Virology 2010; 82: 1600-1605.
  17. Chan PKS*, Liu SJ, Cheung TH, Yeo W, Ngai SM, Cheung JLK, Chong P, Man S. T-cell response to human papillomavirus type 58 L1, E6, And E7 peptides in women with cleared infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or invasive cancer. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 2010; 17: 1315-1321.
  18. Chan PKS*, Chang AR, Yu MY, Li WH, Chan MYM, Yeung ACM, Cheung TH, Yau TN, Wong SM, Yau CW, Ng HK. Age distribution of human papillomavirus infection and cervical neoplasia reflects caveats of cervical screening policies. International Journal of Cancer 2010; 126: 297-301.
  19. Tam LS*, Chan PKS, Ho SC, Yu MMY, Yim SF, Cheung TH, Wong MCS, Li EK. Natural history of cervical papilloma virus infection in systemic lupus erythematosus – a prospective cohort study. Journal of Rheumatology 2010; 37: 330-40.
  20. Chan PKS*, Ho WCS, Yu MY, Pong WM, Chan ACL, Chan AKC, TH Cheung, MCS Wong, KF To, HK Ng. Distribution of human papillomavirus types in cervical cancers in Hong Kong: current situation and changes over the last decades. International Journal of Cancer 2009; 125: 1671–1677.
  21. Chan PKS*, Ho WCS, Wong MCS, Chang AR, Chor JSY, Yu MY. Epidemiologic risk profile of infection with different groups of human papillomaviruses. Journal of Medical Virology 2009; 81: 1635–1644.
  22. Chan PKS*, Luk ACS, Luk TNM, Lee KF, Cheung JLK, Ho KM, Lo KK. Distribution of human papillomavirus types in anogenital warts of men. Journal of Clinical Virology 2009; 44: 111-114.
  23. Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Ng CWY, Yu MY, Wong MCS, Siu SSN, Yim SF, Chan PKS*. Analysis of HPV18 Viral Load and Integration Status from Low-Grade Cervical Lesion to Invasive Cervical Cancer. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009: 47: 287-293.
  24. Bae JH, Cheung JLK, Lee SJ, Luk ACS, Tong SY, Chan PKS, Park JS*. Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Type 58 Variants in Progression of Cervical Dysplasia in Korean Women. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2009; 19: 1051–1054.
  25. Wong WCW*, Fong B, Chan PKS. Acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination among first year female university students in Hong Kong. Sexual Health 2009; 6: 264-271.
  26. Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Tang JWT, Chan PKS*. Increase of integration events and infection loads of human papillomavirus type 52 with lesion severity from low-grade cervical lesion to invasive cancer. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2008; 46: 1356-1362.
  27. Liu HC, Chen GG*, Vlantis AC, Tong MCF, Chan PKS, van Hasselt CA. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by 5-fluorouracil in laryngeal cancer cells containing HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Clinical Biochemistry 2008; 41: 1117-1125.
  28. Chan PKS*. Commonly asked questions on human papillomavirus vaccine. Hong Kong Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 2008; 16: 12-17.
  29. Chan PKS*, Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Lo KWK, Yim SF, Siu SSN, Tang JW. Profile of viral load, integration and E2 gene disruption of HPV58 in normal cervix and cervical neoplasia. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2007; 196: 868-875.
  30. Chan PKS*, Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Lin CK, Siu SSN, Yu MMY, Tang JW, Lo KWK, Yim SF, Wong YF, To KF, Ng HK, Chung TKH. HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms and risk for cervical cancer: a case-control study in a southern Chinese population. Gynecologic Oncology 2007; 105: 736-741.
  31. Chan PKS*, Cheung TH, Lin CK, Siu SSN, Yim SF, Lo KWK, Cheung JLK, Tam AOY, Tang JW. Association between HLA-DRB1 polymorphism, high-risk HPV infection and cervical neoplasia in southern Chinese women. Journal of Medical Virology 2007; 79: 970-976.
  32. Cheung JL, Lo KW, Cheung TH, Tang JW, Chan PKS*. Viral load, E2 gene disruption status, and lineage of human papillomavirus type 16 infection in cervical neoplasia. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2006; 194: 1706-1712.
  33. Chan PKS*, Cheung JLK, Cheung TH, Lin CK, Tam AOY, Chan DPC, Zhou DX, Lo KWK, Yim SF, Siu SSN. HLA-B alleles, high-risk HPV infection and risk for cervical neoplasia in southern Chinese women. International Journal of Cancer 2006; 118: 1430-1435.
  34. Chan PKS*, Cheung THH, Tam AOH, Lo KWH, Yim SFH, Yu MMH, To KFH, Wong YFH, Cheung JLK, Chan DPC, Hui MH, Ip M. Biases in human papillomavirus genotype prevalence assessment associated with commonly used consensus primers. International Journal of Cancer 2006; 118: 243-245.
  35. Chan PKS*, Yu MMY, Cheung TH, To KF, Lo KWK, Cheung JLK, Tong JHM. Detection and quantitation of human papillomavirus DNA in primary tumour and lymph nodes of patients with early stage cervical carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Virology 2005; 33: 201-205.
  36. Chan PKS*. Epidemiology of human papillomavirus in Asia: Do HPV-52 and HPV-58 play a special role? Papillomavirus Report 2005; 16: 265-271.
  37. Chan DPC, Cheung TH, Tam AOY, Cheung JLK, Yim SF, Lo KWK, Siu NSS, Zhou DX, Chan PKS*. Risk association of HLA-A allele and high-risk HPV infection for cervical neoplasia in Chinese women. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2005; 192: 1749-1756.
  38. Tam LS*, Chan AYK, Chan PKS, Chang AR, Li EK. Higher prevalence of squamous intraepithelial lesion in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – association with human papillomavirus infection. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2004; 11: 3619-3625.
  39. Du J, Chen GG*, Vlantis AC, Chan PKS, Tsang RKY, van Hasselt CA. Resistance to apoptosis of HPV 16-infected laryngeal cancer cells is associated with decreased Bak and increased Bcl-2 expression. Cancer Letters 2004; 205: 81-88.
  40. Yu MY, Tong JHM, Chan PKS, Lee TL, Chan MWY, Chan AWH, Lo KW, To KF. Hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene RASSFIA and frequent concomitant loss of heterozygosity at 3P21 in cervical cancers. International Journal of Cancer 2003; 105: 204-209.
  41. Chan PKS*, Lam CW, Cheung TH, Li WWH, Lo KWK, Chan MYM, Cheung JLK, Cheng AF. Association of human papillomavirus type 58 variant with the risk of cervical cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002; 94: 1249-1253.
  42. Chan PKS*, Lam CW, Cheung TH, Li WWH, Lo KW, Chan MY, Cheung JL, Xu LY, Cheng AF. Human papillomavirus 16 intratypic variant infection and risk for cervical neoplasia in Southern China. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2002; 186: 696-700.
  43. Chan PKS*, Mak KH, Cheung JLK, Tang NLS, Chan DPC, Lo KK, Cheng AF. Genotype spectrum of cervical human papillomavirus infection among sexually transmitted disease clinic patients in Hong Kong. Journal of Medical Virology 2002; 68: 273-277.
  44. Chan PKS*, Chang AR, Tam WH, Cheung JLK, Cheng AF. Prevalence and genotype distribution of cervical human papillomavirus infection: comparison between pregnant women and non-pregnant controls. Journal of Medical Virology 2002; 67: 583-588.
  45. Chan PKS*, Chang AR, Cheung JLK, Chan DPC, Xu LY, Tang NLS, Cheng AF. Determinants of cervical human papillomavirus infection: differences between high and low oncogenic risk types. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2002; 185: 28-35.
  46. Chan PKS*, Chan MYM, Li WWH, Chan DPC, Cheung JLK, Cheng AF. Association of human betaherpesviruses with the development of cervical cancer: bystanders or cofactors. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2001; 54: 48-53.
  47. Chan PKS*, Li WH, Chan MYM, Cheng AFB. Detection of human herpesvirus 8 in cervical cells of Chinese women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears. Clinical Infectious Diseases 1999; 29: 1584-1585.
  48. Chan PKS*, Li WH, Chan MYM, Ma WL, Cheung JLK, Cheng AF. High prevalence of human papillomavirus type 58 in Chinese women with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Journal of Medical Virology 1999; 59: 232-238.