Hpv Cervical Dysplasia - Hpv and Cancer

Solomon D. Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, Rm. 2130 Executive Plaza North, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.

The classic model of cervical cancer prevention-primary screening with cytology, followed by diagnostic colposcopically directed biopsy, and finally treatment of cancer precursors-is undergoing dynamic change. The introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing and other new modalities provides more options but increases complexity in the sequence of screening, triage, diagnosis, and patient management. This chapter will focus on the role of triage and risk stratification in management. The utility of HPV testing has been established for triage of cytologic findings of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance but not for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse. Countries without established cytology services may consider alternative screening, triage, and treatment programs that may be more readily implemented than a resource-rich "cytology followed by colposcopy" paradigm requiring an infrastructure of highly trained personnel. The diagnostic step of colposcopy and directed biopsy is not completely sensitive in the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or 3 as is sometimes assumed. The partial insensitivity of this diagnostic step results in a population of women with negative colposcopically directed-biopsy findings but at increased risk for missed prevalent disease: these women may require additional triage rather than resumption of routine screening. As more efficient screening, triage, and diagnosis increase the sensitivity of detection of even very small CIN2 or CIN3, overtreatment of lesions that might otherwise regress becomes a concern and highlights the need to identify accurate markers of risk of progression to cancer. Markers of molecular events further along the pathway from HPV infection to development of cancer may ultimately provide more specificity in triage and diagnosis.

Publication Types:
• Review
• Review, Tutorial

J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2003;(31):89-96.

Chapter 13: Primary screening of cervical cancer with human papillomavirus tests.

Franco EL. Division of Cancer Epidemiology, McGill University, 546 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada H2W 1S6.

Despite its history of success in cancer screening, Pap cytology has important limitations, particularly its high false-negative rate, which carries important public health implications. Since the mid-1990s, there has been substantial interest in the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing in cervical cancer screening under the premise that the testing of cervical cells for the causative agent of cervical cancer could have acceptable screening performance, while being more reproducible in clinical practice than Pap cytology. There have been several studies assessing the utility of HPV testing compared with the Pap test as a screening tool. These studies varied widely in lesion-outcome definition and in methodology. No studies were based on cervical cancer incidence or mortality. No randomized controlled trials have yet been published; all of the studies were based on concomitant testing for HPV and cytology or additional tests. HPV testing has greater sensitivity (average, 27%) but somewhat lower specificity (average, 8%) than Pap cytology for detecting high-grade lesions. Screening of women aged 30 years or older tends to improve test specificity, but it also does so for cytology. The combination of cytology and HPV attained high-negative predictive values, which suggests that their joint use could allow screening intervals to be safely increased, thus lowering costs. Although evidence is yet to come from long-term studies and from randomized controlled trials with high-grade lesions and invasive cancer as outcomes, HPV testing is clearly one of the most promising new technologies and has the potential to improve cervical cancer-screening effectiveness in many settings.

Publication Types:
• Review
• Review, Tutorial

J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2003;(31):47-51.

Chapter 7: Human papillomavirus and cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Herrero R. Fundacion Costarriccense para la Docencia en Ciencias de la Salud, PO Box 301-6151, Santa Ana, Costa Rica.

We discuss current evidence of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in some cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the larynx. Cancers of the oral cavity and the pharynx are associated mainly with tobacco and alcohol exposure, but there is evidence from case series, from case-control studies, and from cohort studies that HPV plays a role in a fraction of these cancers, particularly cancer in the oropharynx and tonsil. The HPV type most commonly associated with cancers in these locations is HPV 16. Laboratory evidence indicates that the virus is integrated and that HPV oncogenes are transcriptionally active in these tumors. Many aspects of the association remain to be investigated, including the epidemiology and natural history of HPV infection in the mouth, the role of cofactors, and the potential use of HPV testing and vaccines in the prevention of these tumors. An analogous role for the virus at other anatomic sites in the upper aerodigestive tract such as the larynx is less clear. The relationship between HPV infection and laryngeal cancer is of particular interest, given that recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is clearly caused by benign proliferative growths induced by HPV 6 or 11 infection of the laryngeal epithelium. Although HPV genomic DNA has been detected in a proportion of laryngeal cancers and despite the many efforts made during the last 15 years, there is not yet compelling evidence that HPV plays a substantial role in laryngeal cancer.

Publication Types:
• Review
• Review, Tutorial

Hpv Cervical Dysplasia - HPV and Cancer Links

Cancer and Human Papilloma Virus - It is a not-for-profit web site that aims to help patients and dentists find free information on mouth, oral, throat and other cancers.

Cervical Cancer and Human Papilloma Virus - Information on many different cancers includes symptoms, cancer detection and prevention, and treatment options.