A zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) targeting the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 (HPV18) oncoprotein E7, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon transfection of ZFN-758 into HPV18-positive cells, ZFN-758 targets, binds to and cleaves the HPV18 E7 oncogene in HPV18-infected cells. By cleaving the HPV18 E7 DNA, the E7 oncoprotein is not expressed. This results in an inhibition of E7-mediated signaling, an induction of apoptosis, and an inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in HPV18-expressing cells. In addition, preventing E7 expression induces the expression of tumor suppressor genes, thereby further preventing HPV-induced cancer cell formation and proliferation. E7 plays a key role in promoting both viral infection and carcinogenesis. ZFN, an engineered endonuclease in which a DNA-binding zinc finger protein is fused to a DNA-cleavable domain, cleaves specific DNA sites.