OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between HPV16 and the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by studying the effects of HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogene on the proliferation and differentiation of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line.

METHODSCationic phosphonolipid was used to transfect pLXSN16E6E7 into Lscc-02 high differentiation laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell line, the cells transfected by the vector pLXSN and Lscc-02 cells served as control groups. The changes of proliferation and differentiation were measured in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTSThe proliferation was quicker in experimental group. The average A ratio reached to 2.96, which was higher than 1.90 and 1.85 of control groups. The clone forming rate was 23.6% in experimental group, which was higher than 12.7% and 12.0% of control groups. Serum-dependent became lower in experimental group. The Ki-67 positive expression rate was markedly increased and cytokeratin 13 positive expression rate was markedly decreased in experimental group as compared with control groups. The Ki-67 positive expression rates were 93.8%, 80.7% and 79.2% respectively. The cytokeratin 13 positive expression rate were 80.9%, 91.0% and 93.7% respectively. The latent period and internal double time of transplant tumor were short in experimental group compared with control groups. The latent period were 19 d, 28 d and 30 d respectively. The internal double time of transplant tumor was 2.15 d, 3.28 d and 3.47 d respectively. The volume of transplant tumor was smaller in the same period in experimental group. The cells of transplant tumor in experimental group showed an image of small size, great allotype and a trend of low differentiation.

CONCLUSIONSHPV16 E6 and E7 can promote the proliferation and inhibit the differentiation of Lscc-02 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells which suggest HPV16 may play an important role in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.