This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Castle, P. E. Articles by Burk, R. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Castle, P. E. Articles by Burk, R. D.

Age-Related Changes of the Cervix Influence Human Papillomavirus Type Distribution

¹ Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, and ² Communications Engineering Branch, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland; ³ Proyecto Epidemiológico Guanacaste, Fundación INCIENSA, San José, Costa Rica; and ⁴ Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York

Requests for reprints: Philip E. Castle, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Room 7074, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS MSC 7234, Bethesda, MD 20892-7234. Phone: 301-435-3976; Fax: 301-402-0916; E-mail: castlep{at}mail.nih.gov.

Approximately 15 human papillomavirus (HPV) types cause virtually all cervical cancer whereas other HPV types are unrelated to cancer. We were interested in whether some noncarcinogenic types differ from carcinogenic in their affinity for the cervical transformation zone, where nearly all HPV-induced cancers occur. To examine this possibility, we tested cervical specimens from 8,374 women without cervical precancer and cancer participating in a population-based study in Guanacaste for >40 HPV types using PCR. We compared age-group specific prevalences of HPV types of the 9 species, which are mainly carcinogenic and include HPV16, to the genetically distinct types of the 3/15 species (e.g., HPV71), which are noncarcinogenic and common in vaginal specimens from hysterectomized women. We related HPV detection of each group to the location of the junction between the squamous epithelium of the ectocervix and vagina and the columnar epithelium of the endocervical canal. Models evaluated the independent effects of amount of exposed columnar epithelium (ectopy) and age on the presence of 9 or 3/15 types. Prevalence of 9 types (7.6%) peaked in the youngest women, declined in middle-aged women, and then increased slightly in older women. By contrast, prevalence of 3/15 types (7.6%) tended to remain invariant or to increase with increasing age. Detection of 9 infections increased (P_trend < 0.0005) but 3/15 infections decreased (P_trend < 0.0005) with increasing exposure of the columnar epithelia. Older age and decreasing cervical ectopy were independently positively associated with having an 3/15 infection compared with having an 9 infection. These patterns need to be confirmed in other studies and populations. We suggest that these genetically distinct groups of HPV types may differ in tissue preferences, which may contribute to their differences in carcinogenic potential. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(2): 1218-24)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M Safaeian, M Kiddugavu, P E Gravitt, S J Gange, J Ssekasanvu, D Murokora, M Sklar, D Serwadda, M J Wawer, K V Shah, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for carcinogenic human papillomavirus infections in rural Rakai, Uganda Sex. Transm. Inf., August 1, 2008; 84(4): 306 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Blaser Understanding Microbe-Induced Cancers Cancer Prevention Research, June 1, 2008; 1(1): 15 - 20. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Wood, Z. Chen, J. M. Cline, B. E. Miller, and R. D. Burk Characterization and Experimental Transmission of an Oncogenic Papillomavirus in Female Macaques J. Virol., June 15, 2007; 81(12): 6339 - 6345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Kreimer, H. A. Katki, M. Schiffman, C. M. Wheeler, P. E. Castle, and for the ASCUS-LSIL Triage Study Group Viral Determinants of Human Papillomavirus Persistence following Loop Electrical Excision Procedure Treatment for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2 or 3 Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2007; 16(1): 11 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Kovacic, P. E. Castle, R. Herrero, M. Schiffman, M. E. Sherman, S. Wacholder, A. C. Rodriguez, M. L. Hutchinson, M. C. Bratti, A. Hildesheim, et al. Relationships of human papillomavirus type, qualitative viral load, and age with cytologic abnormality. Cancer Res., October 15, 2006; 66(20): 10112 - 10119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]