Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: biomarkers for improved prevention efforts.
Sahasrabuddhe, Vikrant V 1; Luhn, Patricia 1; Wentzensen, Nicolas +1,2
[Review]
Future Microbiology.
6(9):1083-1098, September 2011.
(Format: HTML, PDF)
: While organized screening programs in industrialized countries have significantly reduced cervical cancer incidence, cytology-based screening has several limitations. Equivocal or mildly abnormal Pap tests require costly retesting or diagnostic work-up by colposcopy and biopsy. In low-resource countries, it has been difficult to establish and sustain cytology-based programs. Advances in understanding human papillomavirus biology and the natural history of human papillomavirus-related precancers and cancers have led to the discovery of a range of novel biomarkers in the past decade. In this article, we will discuss the potential role of new biomarkers for primary screening, triage and diagnosis in high-resource countries and their promise for prevention efforts in resource constrained settings.
(C) 2011Future Medicine, Ltd.