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HPV role in cervical cancer subject of Korean visit by Megan Fink Public Relations The human papillomavirus (HPV), an infectious disease of the skin and inner membranes, is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world. And research now shows that HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer.   To address this public health concern, Korea University invited Jeff Korte, Ph.D., Biostatistics, Bioinformatics & Epidemiology, to share his research on HPV and cervical cancer and discuss the future of vaccines. Clinicians, researchers, faculty and students representing the university’s Cancer Institute, Graduate School of Public Health and the College of Medicine, came to hear Korte’s presentation on low and high risk HPV infections.   Korte tracked HPV infections in people with active STDs looking at new HPV infections and the period of time the infection was active. “HPV persistence is one of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer,” Korte said. “If an HPV infection persists longer, it is more likely to be accompanied by a serious lesion and progress to cancer.” He found that additional STDs such as chlamydia and herpes contribute to cancer progression if HPV is present.   Previous studies have found that smoking, long-term oral contraceptive use (more than five years), and bearing more children also increase the chances of women with high-risk HPV developing cervical cancer.   A major issue in curtailing the development of cervical cancer is to identify HPV carriers. Women depend on annual Pap smears to initially determine their risk; however, these tests are only about 50 percent accurate, said Korte. “They are being phased out for liquid-based, thin layer evaluation methods.”   This new testing model called Thin Prep accomplishes the same task as a traditional Pap smear—examining a sample of cervical cells. It also allows for quick HPV testing in women, who are diagnosed with an intermediary result level between normal and abnormal. If a sample falls into this middle classification, reflex testing can be used to determine a woman’s infection status.    A negative HPV test means that the woman’s risk of developing something serious is extremely low, and testing is not necessary for another three years. In the future, instead of a Pap smear followed by HPV testing in women with abnormal cervical cells, better accuracy may be achieved through initial HPV testing.   The best method of prevention is vaccination, which is currently only viable for unexposed women and a subset of HPV types. Since the majority of HPV-positive people contract the disease within a few years of sexual activity, there is a push to vaccinate young female adolescents. Current vaccines have been approved for women ages nine to 26, but targeted to girls 11 to 13.   Though the HPV vaccine is a socially controversial issue, the spread of HPV is a major public health concern. Rates of HPV are higher in South Carolina than other states, as are the number of cervical cancer cases, especially among the black population. This health disparity is partially due to limited access to health care and fewer follow-up visits for abnormal screenings.     Friday, Dec. 21, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.