Biomaterial Database

Human papillomavirus infection and anogenital neoplasia: speculations for the future. 1987

W D Lancaster, and A B Jenson

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vincent T. Lombardi Cancer Research Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

HPV infections of the female genital tract are common. The association of these viruses with anogenital neoplasia has stimulated efforts to devise practical methods of detection and typing of HPV. Although experimental diagnostic tests are available, they are, for the most part, complex and time consuming and are limited to medical centers researching HPV. New methods for preparing probes with higher sensitivities for hybridization tests will allow use of in-situ methods on formalin-fixed tissues and will probably be the method of choice. Antigen detection systems are not available except for antisera directed against the common structural antigens. The most useful immunologic test will be directed toward detection of nonstructural antigens in fixed tissues; such a system could also be useful for virus typing. Therapies based on use of these antigens to stimulate the immune system may be applicable as an alternative to current therapies. Most intriguing are the prospects for a vaccine based on either structural or nonstructural viral antigens. It has been estimated that as many as 20 per cent of female cancer deaths worldwide are associated with HPV. Thus, use of an effective vaccine would relieve considerable human suffering. However, until the host immune response to HPV infection is better defined, much of the effort dedicated to developing a vaccine may be futile.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007167	Immunotherapy	Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection.	Immunotherapies
D009693	Nucleic Acid Hybridization	Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded DNAs or RNAs to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (Kendrew, Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994, p503)	Genomic Hybridization,Acid Hybridization, Nucleic,Acid Hybridizations, Nucleic,Genomic Hybridizations,Hybridization, Genomic,Hybridization, Nucleic Acid,Hybridizations, Genomic,Hybridizations, Nucleic Acid,Nucleic Acid Hybridizations
D012004	Rectal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the RECTUM.	Cancer of Rectum,Rectal Cancer,Rectal Tumors,Cancer of the Rectum,Neoplasms, Rectal,Rectum Cancer,Rectum Neoplasms,Cancer, Rectal,Cancer, Rectum,Neoplasm, Rectal,Neoplasm, Rectum,Rectal Cancers,Rectal Neoplasm,Rectal Tumor,Rectum Cancers,Rectum Neoplasm,Tumor, Rectal
D005260	Female		Females
D005544	Forecasting	The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology.	Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D005833	Genital Neoplasms, Female	Tumor or cancer of the female reproductive tract (GENITALIA, FEMALE).	Gynecologic Neoplasms,Female Genital Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Female Genital,Neoplasms, Gynecologic,Female Genital Neoplasm,Genital Neoplasm, Female,Gynecologic Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Female Genital,Neoplasm, Gynecologic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014412	Tumor Virus Infections	Infections produced by oncogenic viruses. The infections caused by DNA viruses are less numerous but more diverse than those caused by the RNA oncogenic viruses.	Fibroma, Shope,Papilloma, Shope,Infections, Tumor Virus,Infection, Tumor Virus,Shope Fibroma,Shope Papilloma,Tumor Virus Infection
D014611	Vaccination	Administration of vaccines to stimulate the host's immune response. This includes any preparation intended for active immunological prophylaxis.	Immunization, Active,Active Immunization,Active Immunizations,Immunizations, Active,Vaccinations
D027383	Papillomaviridae	A family of small, non-enveloped DNA viruses infecting birds and most mammals, especially humans. They are grouped into multiple genera, but the viruses are highly host-species specific and tissue-restricted. They are commonly divided into hundreds of papillomavirus "types", each with specific gene function and gene control regions, despite sequence homology. Human papillomaviruses are found in the genera ALPHAPAPILLOMAVIRUS; BETAPAPILLOMAVIRUS; GAMMAPAPILLOMAVIRUS; and MUPAPILLOMAVIRUS.