Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 variants in cervical carcinoma: relationship to host genetic factors and clinical parameters.

Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) confers a high risk for the development of cervical neoplasia. Variants of this virus may interact differentially with host genetic factors, possibly altering the disease course. Thus, HPV-16 E6 variants may differ in their ability to degrade p53 whereas the polymorphic p53 alleles may provide more or less susceptible substrates for the viral oncogene product.