Abstract

Papillomaviruses, long associated with benign skin tumors, have been linked more recently to human cancers, particularly to cervical carcinoma. Molecular analysis of the virus has identified the transforming gene and its regulation by both viral and cellular trans:‐acting factors. This viral regulatory mechanism is altered in carcinomas. However, lack of progress in developing an in vitro system has hampered investigation of the viral life cycle and the biology of the virus‐‐host: cell interaction.