BackgroundEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies. Increasing evidence has revealed that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be associated with the possible etiology of ESCC. Nevertheless, the precise role of HPV in ESCC remains unclear. MethodsProliferation and apoptosis capability of ESCC cells upon infection of HPV16 E6 were detected by CCK-8 assay and Western blotting analysis. Wound healing assay and Transwell experiment were conducted to determine the ability of migration and invasion, and the mRNA expression of E6AP, p53, miR-34a was determined by real-time PCR after transfected with HPV16 E6 plasmid. ResultsIn ESCC cells, the ability of proliferation, migration and invasion were increased, and the ability of apoptosis was decreased after transfected with HPV16 E6 plasmid. Furthermore, the mRNA level of E6AP, P53 and miR-34a were decreased in HPV16 E6-transfected cell lines. ConclusionsOur results not only provide evidence that in ESCC, HPV16 E6 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion, inhibits cell apoptosis, but also suggest that there may be a correlation between E6AP, P53 and miR-34a in HPV-transfected cell lines. These ndings indicated that HPV16 E6 may play an important role in the development of ESCC.