Disease Markers - Volume 23, issue 4

Authors: von Knebel Doeberitz, Magnus | Wentzensen, Nicolas

Article Type: Other

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 197-198, 2007

Authors: Jenkins, David

Article Type: Research Article

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 199-212, 2007

Authors: Bosch, F. Xavier | de Sanjosé, Silvia

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Cervical cancer has been recognized as a rare outcome of a common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). The etiologic association is restricted to a limited number of viral types of the family of the Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs). The association is causal in nature and under optimal testing systems, HPV DNA can be identified in all specimens of invasive cervical cancer. As a consequence, it has been claimed that HPV infection is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. …The evidence is consistent worldwide and implies both the Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCC), the adenocarcinomas and the vast majority (i.e. > 95%) of the immediate precursors, namely High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL)/Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3 (CIN3)/Carcinoma in situ. Co-factors that modify the risk among HPV DNA positive women include the use of oral contraceptives (OC) for five or more years, smoking, high parity (five or more full term pregnancies) and previous exposure to other sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2). Women exposed to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are at high risk for HPV infection, HPV DNA persistency and progression of HPV lesions to cervical cancer. Show more

Keywords: Cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, HPV, epidemiology

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 213-227, 2007

Authors: Moscicki, Anna-Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Adolescents who are sexually active have the highest rates of prevalent and incident HPV infection rates with over 50–80% having infections within 2–3 years of initiating intercourse. These high rates reflect sexual behavior and biologic vulnerability. Most infections are transient in nature and cause no cytologic abnormality. However, a small number of adolescents will not clear the infection. Persistence of HPV is strongly linked to the development of high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions …(HSIL) and invasive cancer. The HSIL detected, however, does not appear to progress rapidly to invasive cancer. Understanding the natural history of HPV in adolescents has shed light into optional treatment strategies which include watchful observation of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and low grade (LSIL). The association between age of first intercourse and invasive cancer cannot be ignored. Consequently, initiating screening at appropriate times in this vulnerable group is essential. In addition, with the advent of the HPV vaccine, vaccination prior to the onset of sexual activity is critical since most infections occur within a short time frame post initiation. Show more

Keywords: Natural history, HPV, SIL, adolescents

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 229-234, 2007

Authors: Shah, Keerti V. | Westra, William H.

Article Type: Research Article

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 235-245, 2007

Authors: Nindl, Ingo | Gottschling, Marc | Stockfleth, Eggert

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infect cutaneous and mucosal epithelia and induce benign and malignant lesions. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), encompassing basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is the most frequent cancer in the Caucasian population, and the incidence has increased dramatically worldwide. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for NMSC, and cutaneous HPV is also considered to play an active role during the pathogenesis of these cancers. The first evidence for the …involvement of HPV in NMSC was reported in patients with Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). HPV types detected in skin tumours of these patients are referred to as EV/cutaneous HPV types belonging to the beta- and gamma-papillomaviruses (PV). Epidemiological studies have shown a higher risk of several EV/cutaneous HPV types for NMSC. Furthermore, in vitro and animal models show transforming properties of some PV types. The anti-apoptotic activities, and the delay of DNA repair mechanism caused by some EV/cutaneous HPV E6 proteins in response to UV-induced mutations, may lead to the persistence of DNA-damaged keratinocytes. Thus, specific EV/cutaneous HPV types as co-factors in association with UV-radiation and the immune system seem to be involved in the early pathogenesis of cutaneous SCC. Show more

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 247-259, 2007

Authors: Palefsky, Joel M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: While much is known about the natural history of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its consequences, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer, relatively little is known about the natural history of anogenital HPV infection and diseases in men. In part this reflects difficulties in penile sampling and visual assessment of penile lesions. Anal HPV infection and disease also remain poorly understood. Although HPV is transmitted sexually and infects the genitals of both sexes, the …cervix remains biologically more vulnerable to malignant transformation than does the penis or anus in men. An understanding of male HPV infection is therefore important in terms of reducing transmission of HPV to women and improving women's health. However, it is also important due to the burden of disease in men, who may develop both penile and anal cancer, particularly among HIV-positive men who have sex with men. Improved sampling techniques of the male genitalia and cohort studies in progress should provide important information on the natural history of anogenital HPV infection and disease in men, including risk factors for HPV acquisition and transmission. The impact of HPV vaccination in women on male anogenital HPV infection will also need to be assessed. Show more

Keywords: Penile HPV infection, anal HPV infection, penile intraepithelial neoplasia, anal intraepithelial neoplasia, penile cancer, anal cancer, condyloma, HIV

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 261-272, 2007

Authors: Brink, Antoinette A.T.P. | Snijders, Peter J.F. | Meijer, Chris J.L.M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Given the causal relation between a persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and the development of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer, hrHPV testing has been advocated in addition to cytology for the detection of clinically relevant cervical lesions. HrHPV testing is thought to improve cervical screening algorithms, the management of women with cytologically equivocal smears, and the management of women treated for high grade CIN. In this chapter we discuss …different methods for HPV detection and genotyping and their respective applications. Show more

Keywords: Human papillomavirus, polymerase chain reaction, reverse hybridization, hybrid capture, real-time PCR, cervical carcinoma, NASBA, DNA probes, epidemiology

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 273-281, 2007

Authors: Pagliusi, Sonia R. | Garland, Suzanne M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Humam papillomavirus is the commonest genital viral infection in healthy sexually active subjects, and the presence of chronic or persistent HPV types in genital cells may constitute a prognostic marker of underlying, or predict future HPV-associated diseases. A variety of novel tests for detecting the presence of oncogenic HPV types in biological specimens have been reported. These are based on the various stages of infection and viral life cycle. HPV infects squamous epithelium with expression of …various gene products intimately linked to epithelial cell differentiation. Hence, there are basically three classes of detectable markers directly derived from HPVs: molecular markers based on detection of nucleic acid sequences, serological markers based on detection of antibodies against viral proteins, and cellular markers based on detection of proteins expressed intracellularly, upon either infection or carcinogenesis. The nature of various assays and the development of international standard reagents for qualitative and quantitative assessment of assay performance are outlined. There is an increasing demand to develop standard tools to assess the quality of HPV detection systems, for regulatory and clinical management purposes. International standard reagents for HPV will help defining the analytical sensitivity and specificity of various detection methods, and will allow assuring that laboratory services used to evaluate disease burden, HPV vaccines, and cancer prevention strategies are accurate and comparable worldwide. The advancement of prophylactic vaccine candidates against HPV infections and related diseases stresses the increasing importance of HPV assays in monitoring the impact of HPV vaccination on disease burden. Show more

Keywords: Papillomavirus, cervical cancer, diagnostic, genital infection, hybridization, PCR, serology, vaccine

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 283-296, 2007

Authors: Doorbar, John

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a diverse group of viruses that cause epithelial lesions of varying severity. Of the 100 or so types that have been identified, around 40 can infect the cervix, with a subset of these causing lesions that can progress to high-grade neoplasia and cervical cancer. These high-risk types are prevalent in the general population, and can predispose to the development of cancer in women who cannot resolve their infection. Virus infection usually leads …to the establishment of productive flat warts, or to maintenance of the viral genome in an asymptomatic or latent state. Virus synthesis depends on the ordered expression of viral gene products as the infected basal cell migrates towards the epithelial surface. E7 is expressed in the lower epithelial layers, and is followed eventually by the expression of E4 and L1 closer to the epithelial surface. This ordered pattern changes in characteristic ways during neoplastic progression and latency, and can be irreversibly fixed following integration of the viral genome into the host cell chromosome. Our understanding of expression patterns and their significance, is beginning to explain the nature of disease progression, and offers a rational basis for the selection of biomarkers that may be used to predict disease status and prognostic outcome. Show more

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 297-313, 2007