Aims:　The　integration　preferences　of　human　papillomavirus　(HPV)　have　been　intensively　studied　and　contested　over　recent　years.　To　disclose　the　integration　preferences　of　high-risk　HPV　in　cervical　cancer,　HPV　transcriptional　sites　and　features　in　different　cervical　cancer　cell　lines　were　identified.　Main　methods:　In　this　study,　three　cervical　cancer　cell　lines　(CaSki,　HeLa,　and　SiHa)　were　subjected　for　HPV　genome　status　determination　by　amplification　of　papillomavirus　oncogene　transcripts　(APOT)　assay.　The　numbers　of　viral　copies　in　human　genomes　and　numbers　of　viral-human　fusion　mRNAs　in　three　HPV-integrated　cervical　cancer　cell　lines　were　measured　and　analysed.　Key　findings:　The　results　revealed　that　the　gene　desert　region　8q24　of　the　HPV　type　18　integrated　HeLa　cell　line　and　the　13q21-22　region　of　the　HPV　type　16　integrated　CaSki　and　SiHa　cell　lines　were　hotspots　for　HPV　integration,　and　the　numbers　of　viral　copies　in　the　human　genomes　of　the　three　cell　lines　that　we　detected　were　not　in　accordance　with　those　reported　in　previous　studies.　Significance:　Integration　of　the　HPV　genome　into　the　host　cell　chromosome　suggests　that　persistent　HPV　infection　is　vital　for　malignant　cell　transformation　and　carcinogenesis.　This　study　provides　information　to　benefit　health　care　professionals　seeking　more　comprehensive　and　accurate　diagnostics　for　HPV-related　disease＂?　Please　check,　and　amend　as　necessary.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.