KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to clarify the link between HSV and HNC risk.
- Researchers found a significant link between HSV infection and HNC risk, warranting further study.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a complex disease with various risk factors contributing to its progression. Observational studies suggest a possible correlation between herpes simplex virus (HSV) and HNC risk, but the causal relationship remains unclear.
Ming Yan and the team aimed to assess the causal link between HSV and HNC by using Mendelian randomization.
They assessed causality between HSV and HNC, relying on the latest public health and Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data. Causal effects were estimated using IVW, weighted median, and MR-Egger methods. Reverse MR analysis was also conducted. Sensitivity analyses included Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, leave-one-out analysis, and funnel plot assessment.
The results showed that genetically predicted higher levels of HSV-1 IgG were causally related to HNC (OR=1.0019, 95%CI=1.0003-1.0036, P=0.0186, IVW) and oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OR=1.0018, 95%CI=1.0004-1.0033, P=0.0105, IVW).
Reverse MR analysis did not reveal a reverse causal relationship between HSV and HNC. However, HSV-2 infection was not causally related to HNC or oropharyngeal cancer. Sensitivity analyses showed no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.
The study concluded that a significant association exists between HSV infection and an increased risk of HNC, offering valuable insights into the disease’s etiology. Further in-depth research is needed to validate these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.
This work was supported by a grant from the Foundation of Guiyang Science and Technology Bureau. MY was supported by the Merit Scholarship of Hamburg university for International Students (No.7238065). L-LF was supported by the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC Scholarship) (No.202208520014).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39161761/
Yan M, Xiao LY, Gosau M, et al. (2024). “The role of herpes simplex virus infection in the etiology of head and neck cancer-a Mendelian randomization study.” Front Immunol. 2024;15:1278327. Published 2024 Aug 5. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1278327
