HPV Cervical Cancer
Published on Mar 12 2010, in the categories: Facts, HPV, Stages of disease
Research conducted in recent years have uncovered the link between cancer of the cervix and human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus. Today, it is estimated that virtually all such cancers are related to these viruses. Zoom in on this tiny enemy with Dr Francoise Thierry de l'Institut Pasteur.
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Cancer of the cervix develops from precancerous lesions called induced by different viruses of the family of human papillomavirus (HPV or HPV for Human Papillomavirus). Researcher in the unit gene expression and disease of the Pasteur Institute, Françoise Thierry tells us more about these viruses.
Portrait of a family of viruses - Papillomavirus Cancer uterusLe Dr. Thierry tells us that: "Overall, these viruses are divided into two large families. Some affect the skin and mucous membranes seconds. Some of these infections are benign (warts of the hand and foot arch) while others may progress to cancer development. As is sometimes the case in the cervix.
If these sexually transmitted infections are most often benign, they operate in some cases by precancerous lesions (dysplasia) that they can even evolve into cancer of the cervix if not treated. There are every year and 258 000 deaths worldwide, including 1 000 in France. The papillomaviruses are present in 80 to 100% of cancers of the cervix. Conversely, the risk of cancer among women not infected is virtually nil.
Among the different types of viruses (there are nearly 120 genotypes), not all have the same carcinogenic. In Europe, the most harmful is undoubtedly that of type 16, involved in more than a cancer on deux1 cervix. Other types of this virus are oncogenic HPV18 (20% of cases) and less often HPV31, HPV33 and HPV35. "We can not necessarily say they are less dangerous, they are certainly less present in our European environment. In Colombia, human papillomavirus found in over half of cancerous lesions of the cervix is HPV45. It are so large geographical variability "said Dr. Thierry.
Finally, there are Asian or African variants of HPV found in Europe. Some studies suggest they are more persistent and less easily eliminated by the body. But this remains controversial.However, all HPV infections do not progress to cancer, fortunately!
All infections do not progress to cancer - HPV infections are very common in young women and most often regress spontaneously. Thus, at least one sexually active woman in two was exposed to the virus during its life. The virus was detected in 30% of women under 30 years and in 10% of women beyond that age. The risk of infection increases to 60%, 5 years after the onset of sexual activity, it decreases and then drops to 5-10% after 40-45 years2.
HPV infections by the same virus type oncogene are usually trivial because the body eliminates it within 6 to 13 months following the contamination. "We do not know many factors that cause the infection will resolve spontaneously or lead to cancer. It is estimated that today is the length of this infection will run the cancer process," says Dr. Thierry. It is the persistence of infection by this oncogene virus, which causes abnormal cells - the most important marker of tumor
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Cancer of the cervix develops from precancerous lesions called induced by different viruses of the family of human papillomavirus (HPV or HPV for Human Papillomavirus). Researcher in the unit gene expression and disease of the Pasteur Institute, Françoise Thierry tells us more about these viruses.
Portrait of a family of viruses - Papillomavirus Cancer uterusLe Dr. Thierry tells us that: "Overall, these viruses are divided into two large families. Some affect the skin and mucous membranes seconds. Some of these infections are benign (warts of the hand and foot arch) while others may progress to cancer development. As is sometimes the case in the cervix.
If these sexually transmitted infections are most often benign, they operate in some cases by precancerous lesions (dysplasia) that they can even evolve into cancer of the cervix if not treated. There are every year and 258 000 deaths worldwide, including 1 000 in France. The papillomaviruses are present in 80 to 100% of cancers of the cervix. Conversely, the risk of cancer among women not infected is virtually nil.
Among the different types of viruses (there are nearly 120 genotypes), not all have the same carcinogenic. In Europe, the most harmful is undoubtedly that of type 16, involved in more than a cancer on deux1 cervix. Other types of this virus are oncogenic HPV18 (20% of cases) and less often HPV31, HPV33 and HPV35. "We can not necessarily say they are less dangerous, they are certainly less present in our European environment. In Colombia, human papillomavirus found in over half of cancerous lesions of the cervix is HPV45. It are so large geographical variability "said Dr. Thierry.
Finally, there are Asian or African variants of HPV found in Europe. Some studies suggest they are more persistent and less easily eliminated by the body. But this remains controversial.However, all HPV infections do not progress to cancer, fortunately!
All infections do not progress to cancer - HPV infections are very common in young women and most often regress spontaneously. Thus, at least one sexually active woman in two was exposed to the virus during its life. The virus was detected in 30% of women under 30 years and in 10% of women beyond that age. The risk of infection increases to 60%, 5 years after the onset of sexual activity, it decreases and then drops to 5-10% after 40-45 years2.
HPV infections by the same virus type oncogene are usually trivial because the body eliminates it within 6 to 13 months following the contamination. "We do not know many factors that cause the infection will resolve spontaneously or lead to cancer. It is estimated that today is the length of this infection will run the cancer process," says Dr. Thierry. It is the persistence of infection by this oncogene virus, which causes abnormal cells - the most important marker of tumor
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