Detection of human antibody against the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein

We examined 500 human sera for the presence of antibody against the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with bacterially expressed fusion protein lac-E7, and by radioimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays with the E7 protein expressed in monkey COS-1 cells. The anti-E7 antibody was detectable in 6 out of 54 cases of cervical carcinoma, but in none of the others, including patients with other gynecologic cancers, those with sexually transmitted diseases, and healthy adults. The data indicate that expression of the E7 protein is closely related to cervical carcinoma.