Embodiments of the invention are related to leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) for use in repressing human papillomavirus (HPV) transcription. Processes and related kits are described for treating a HPV-associated papillomatous proliferation, for treating a HPV-associated genital, anal, vulvar, penile, oral, or laryngeal wart, for treating HPV-associated cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer, and for repressing HPV transcription, by administering LIF to a patient in need thereof. A related embodiment is treatment of HPV-16 by use of LIF.