human papilloma virus research - Research

Raley JC, Followwill KA, Zimet GD, Ault KA. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the causative agent of cervical neoplasia and genital warts. A vaccine has recently been developed that may prevent infection with HPV. Vaccination for HPV may become a routine part of office gynecology. We surveyed members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to determine their attitudes to HPV vaccination. METHODS: A survey was sent to Fellows of ACOG to evaluate gynecologists' attitudes. Vaccine acceptability was analyzed using 13 scenarios with the following dimensions and respective attributes: age of patient (13, 17 and 22 years); efficacy of vaccine (50% or 80%); ACOG recommendation (yes or no); and disease targeted (cervical cancer, warts or both). Each scenario was rated by means of an 11-point response format (0 to 100). Responses were evaluated using conjoint analysis. RESULTS: Of 1200 surveys that were sent out, 181 were returned and included in our analysis. ACOG recommendation was considered the most important variable in vaccine distribution (importance score = 32.2), followed by efficacy (24.5), age (22.4) and, lastly, disease targeted (20.9). Of these variables, higher efficacy was favored; preference was given to age 17 years, with a strong disinclination to vaccinate at age 13 years; and protection against cervical cancer, or genital warts, or both, was significantly favored over a vaccine against genital warts alone. Demographic characteristics of the gynecologists (i.e., age of physician, gender, practice setting and community size) did not play an important role in the decision to recommend vaccination. CONCLUSION: Professional society recommendation is important for acceptability of a potential HPV vaccine. Gynecologists are willing to include this vaccine in their office practice.

Infect Genet Evol. 2005 Apr;5(3):255-9. Epub 2004 Nov 30.

Distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in plucked eyebrow hairs from Slovenian males with genital warts.

Kocjan BJ, Poljak M, Seme K, Potocnik M, Fujs K, Babic DZ. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, Zaloska 4, 1105 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

In the present study, the presence and distribution of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in the plucked eyebrow hairs obtained from 49 Slovenian male patients with genital warts were investigated. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with three sets of degenerate primers targeting all known HPV genotypes, HPV DNA was found in 31 (63.3%) of 49 eyebrow hair samples. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) associated HPV specific Ma/Ha nested PCR system detected HPVs in 27 (55.1%) and CPI/CPIIs primers that amplify the majority of cutaneous/EV HPV genotypes in 20 (40.8%) of 49 samples tested. The CPI/CPIIg PCR specific for E1 open reading frame of genital HPVs showed the presence of HPV DNA in 10 (20.4%) of 49 specimens. Direct sequencing of the Ha PCR products showed the presence of three putative new HPV genotypes, named SIBX1, SIBX2 and SIBX3. Similarly, three potential new HPV genotypes, SIBX4, SIBX5 and SIBX6, were detected by sequencing CPI/CPIIs PCR products. In total, at least 24 different HPV genotypes were detected in 31 HPV DNA positive samples of plucked eyebrow hairs. The results of our study showed that the use of a combined degenerate primer PCR approach considerably improves the HPV DNA detection over individual primer sets and greatly improves the detection of different HPV genotypes in the plucked eyebrow hairs.

Zentralbl Chir. 2005 Feb;130(1):60-4.

Viral-induced tumours and pre-malignant cutaneous diseases of the perianal region

Human Papilloma Virus Research - Article in German

HPV-induced tumours and pre-malignant cutaneous diseases of the anal region are rare, without the exception of condylomata acuminata. Often imposing like an eczema (especially M. Bowen, M. Paget) the danger of mis-interpretation and thereby mis-therapy is great, so that they are not seldom diagnosed in the stage of malignant degeneration. A comparatively high rate of recurrence is caused by primarily insufficient (surgical) therapy, but also by secondary transformation of still unchanged dermal areas and by re-infection. Therefore after-care is indicated.

Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2004;25(6):689-98.

Assessment of risk factors and human papillomavirus (HPV) related pathogenetic mechanisms of CIN in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Study design and baseline data of the HPV-PathogenISS study.

Branca M, Costa S, Mariani L, Sesti F, Agarossi A, di Carlo A, Galati M, Benedetto A, Ciotti M, Giorgi C, Criscuolo A, Valieri M, Favalli C, Paba P, Santini D, Piccione E, Alderisio M, De Nuzzo M, di Bonito L, Syrjanen K. Unita Citoistopatologia, Centro Nazionale di Epidemiologia, Sorveglianza e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Roma, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: In women with HIV-associated immunosuppression, HPV infections have an increased risk of progression to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). With the HAART-induced prolonged survival and more protracted clinical course of AIDS, progression of CIN to cervical cancer (CC) has become a clinically relevant issue, and the mechanisms responsible for HIV-HPV interactions need further elucidation. The study design and analysis of the baseline data of our new project are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This project is a combination of a prospective cohort study of HIV- and HIV+ women, and a retrospective analysis of CIN lesions and cervical cancer. Up to the present, 244 women have been enrolled (17 HIV+) and subjected to epidemiological interview, colposcopic examination, sampling for HPV testing and typing (PCR, InnoLiPA), and HPV serology. The retrospective series of biopsies were analysed for 13 biomarkers (monitoring key molecular events) using immunohistochemistry and tested for HPV by PCR and TaqMan. RESULTS: HIV- and HIV+ women differ in their exposure status to many of the key epidemiological risk factors of cervical cancer, the most significant ones being number of sexual partners (p = 0.0001), age at onset of sexual activity (p = 0.002), and contraception (yes-no) (p = 0.009). The differences in the baseline clinical observations are less dramatic; HIV-positive women had more frequent HSIL PAP tests (p = 0.040), CIN2 or higher in cervical biopsy (p = 0.049), and external genital warts (p = 0.019). The factors predicting intermediate endpoint markers of cervical cancer, i.e., HSIL PAP smear, ATZ2 in colposcopy, and high-grade CIN in biopsy were analysed in univariate and multivariate regression models. All factors significant in univariate analysis were entered in the multivariate model; HIV-status and Pap smear history maintained their independent predictive power of the HSIL Pap test. The most powerful predictor of ATZ2 colposcopy was HSIL in Pap test. Only the HSIL Pap test and ATZ2 colposcopy remained significant independent predictors of high-grade CIN (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.008, respectively) in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: The three intermediate endpoint markers are closely interrelated, but predicted in part by different covariantes in the causal pathway to cervical cancer. To elucidate whether the increased risk of HIV-positive women to high-grade CIN is due a) to their different exposure status to the risk factors, b) to the direct effects of HIV, or c) to molecular interactions between HIV and HPV, we need to complete these analyses separately in HIV+ and HIV- women.

human papilloma virus research - HPV Research Links

CDC's Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Prevention Activities - An article describing prevalence of and risk factors for HPV, HPV Laboratory Studies, etc.

NCCC Human Papillomavirus Information - This area provides important information regarding Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including some of the latest cancer trials and information on upcoming vaccines.