GOOD NEWS ABOUT HPV AND CERVICAL CANCER

Report #7237

Virtually all cancers of the cervix are caused by the human wart virus. Doctors used to think that once you get it, you keep it forever. An exciting new study shows that most women who are treated for human wart virus eventually get rid of the virus (1).

All of the women had abnormal PAP smears and were infected with the human wart virus. More than 60% of those treated by removing the cells lining the opening to the uterus got rid of the virus (1). Women are supposed to get PAP smears every year. Doctors check cells from the opening to the uterus for precancerous signs (2). Almost all cases of cancer of the cervix are caused by infection with the human wart virus which can be acquired through sexual contact or by any act that brings these viruses to the genitals (3). In some studies, almost fifty percent of sexually active women with multiple partners are infected with venereal warts, but fewer than one woman in two hundred who has genital warts will go on to develop cervical cancer (4). The vast majority of women who are infected vaginally with the human wart virus got rid of it in a few months with no treatment whatever (5). Women who continue to be infected with the human wart virus are at increased risk for cancer (6). Blood tests can be used to check persistence. (7) For women who already have precancerous changes in their cervix, research shows that interferon injections and retinoic acid cream applied topically can reverse precancerous and even cancerous changes (8).

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News

1) Bollen, L.J.M.; Tjongahung, S.P.; Vandervelden, J.; Mol, B.W.; Boer, K.; Tenkate, F.J.W.; Bleker, O.P.; Terschegget, J. Clearance of cervical human papillomavirus infection by treatment for cervical dysplasia","Sexually Transmitted Diseases. SEP 1997;24(8):456-460.

2) J Nuovo, J Melnikow, M Paliescheskey. Management of patients with atypical and low-grade Pap smear abnormalities. American Family Physician 52: 8 (DEC 1995):2243-2250.

3) even one sexual encounter with an infected partner can cause cervical cancer, at any age, young or old. FX Bosch, MM Manos, N Munoz, M Sherman, AM Jansen, J Peto, MH Schiffman, V Moreno, R Kurman, KV Shah, E Alihonou, S Bayo, HC Mokhtar, S Chicareon, A Daudt, E Delosrios, P Ghadirian, JN Kitinya, M Koulibaly, C Ngelangel, LMP Tintore, JL Riosdalenz, Sarjadi, A Schneider, L Tafur, AR Teyssie, PA Rolon, M Torroella, AV Tapia, HR Wabinga, W Zatonski, B Sylla, P Vizcaino, D Magnin, J Kaldor, C Greer, C Wheeler. Prevalence of human papillomavirus in cervical cancer: A worldwide perspective. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87: 11(JUN 7 1995):796-802.

4) D Gerbaldo, P Cristoforoni, M Leone, L Casciaro, P Baracchini, E Fulcheri. The incidental finding of abnormal cervical histology in postmenopausal patients. Maturitas 21: 2 (FEB 1995):115-120. We found 19.9% specimens including cervical tissue with some histologic sign of pathology. 11.6% had histologic features suggestive for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

5) SA Hinchliffe, D Vanvelzen, H Korporaal, PL Kok, ME Boon. Transience of cervical HPV infection in sexually active, young women with normal cervicovaginal cytology. British Journal of Cancer 72: 4 (OCT 1995):943-945. In 93% (25/27) of initially infected women, the same viral type was not detected upon re-examination four menstrual cycles later. These results suggest that the majority of HPV infections in young women are transient.

6) GYF Ho, RD Burk, S Klein, AS Kadish, CJ Chang, P Palan, J Basu, R Tachezy, R Lewis, S Romney. Persistent genital human papillomavirus infection as a risk factor for persistent cervical dysplasia. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87: 18(SEP 20 1995):1365-1371.

7) L Wideroff, MH Schiffman, B Nonnenmacher, N Hubbert, R Kirnbauer, CE Greer, D Lowy, AT Lorincz, MM Manos, AG Glass, DR Scott, ME Sherman, RJ Kurman, J Buckland, RE Tarone, J Schiller. Evaluation of seroreactivity to human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles in an incident case-control study of cervical neoplasia. Journal of Infectious Diseases 172: 6 (DEC 1995):1425-1430. An ELISA to detect serum IgG antibody response to HPV.

8) LS Massad, ME Turyk, P Bitterman, GD Wilbanks. Interferon-alpha and all-trans-retinoic acid reversibly inhibit the in vitro proliferation of cell lines derived from cervical cancers. Gynecologic Oncology 60: 3 (MAR 1996):428-434.

Reported 10/6/97; Checked 9/5/05