Final answer:
The claim that HPV infection leads to ovarian cancer is false. HPV is mainly associated with cervical cancer, where the virus causes changes in normal cell division processes by inactivating the p53 tumor suppressor protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection predisposes to the development of ovarian cancer is False. Research has confirmed that the primary cancer associated with HPV is cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer. HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer by interfering with normal cell division. In particular, it does this by encoding the E6 protein, which binds p53, a key tumor suppressor protein. When E6 binds p53, it renders it inactive, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and the potential development of a tumor in the cervix.
While HPV is a significant risk factor for cervical cancer – and can cause other cancers of the reproductive system, such as vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers – its association with ovarian cancer is not established.