Dual-dimensional profiling of host genomic variations and HPV integration in PD-L1-stratified cervical cancer via Oxford Nanopore Technology.

[BACKGROUND] The integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA into the host genome is a key step in the development of HPV-associated cervical cancer (CC). However, the genomic characteristics of host genomic variations and HPV integration within the context of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression stratification have not been systematically investigated.

[METHODS] Whole-genome sequencing was performed using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) on six samples (three from the high PD-L1 expression group and three from the low PD-L1 expression group). The characteristics of host genomic variations under different PD-L1 expression stratifications were explored, including structural variations (SV), copy number variations (CNV), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and insertion-deletions (Indel). Subsequently, the distribution features of HPV integration sites were analyzed, different integration types were identified, and pathway analysis was conducted.

[RESULTS] Whole-genome SV analysis revealed that the total number of SVs and the composition of mutation types were similar between the high and low PD-L1 expression groups, with insertions (INS) and deletions (DEL) predominating in both. These variations were primarily enriched in intergenic regions and introns. In the low PD-L1 expression group, integration events were observed at multiple chromosomal loci, with the most frequent integration occurring in the KLF5 gene region on chromosome 13. No frequently integrated loci were identified in the high PD-L1 expression group. Additionally, four distinct HPV integration breakpoint patterns were preliminarily identified and analyzed.

[CONCLUSION] PD-L1 expression stratification did not significantly alter the overall genomic instability of the host. However, differences were observed in the distribution patterns of HPV integration sites. These findings provide new insights into the genomic heterogeneity of CC under different PD-L1 expression backgrounds and may lay the groundwork for future research exploring stratified immunotherapy based on HPV integration features.

[SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION] The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-025-07674-x.