By virtue of the present invention, there is provided methods and compositions for interfering with the proliferation of cells infected and/or transformed by papillomaviruses. The processes and compositions of this invention may be used to treat any mammal, including humans. According to this invention, mammals are treated by the pharmaceutically acceptable administration of an E2.sub.ad/db protein, either directly or by gene transfer techniques, to reduce the symptoms of the specific papillomavirus-associated disease, or to prevent their recurrence.