NSD2 is upregulated by high-risk HPV E6/E7 and modulates epithelial differentiation in HPV-associated Head and Neck Cancer

Epigenetic alterations are a key hallmark of cancer and are increasingly recognized as promising clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) are classified into two subtypes: HPV-positive (HPV+), driven by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, and the HPV-negative (HPV-), associated with environmental risk factors. Although exhibiting distinct molecular and clinicopathological features, both subtypes lack effective, tailored therapies. Profiling their epigenetic landscape could thus have important clinical implications. In this study, we employed a quantitative mass spectrometry approach to profile histone post-translational modification (hPTMs) in HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC.