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Published on: March 11, 2014
HPV types and E6/E7 mRNA expression in cervical samples from Turkish women with abnormal cytology in Ankara, Turkey
İpek Tüney1, Aylin Altay2, Koray Ergünay1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Background/Aim:
Human papillomaviruses have been established as a risk factor for invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. HPV E6/E7 oncogene expression has recently emerged as a promising biomarker to determine the risk for progression to high-grade cervical lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate HPV mRNA and DNA detection in samples with abnormal cytology.
Materials And Methods:
Cervical specimens were obtained at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology via cervical brushes during January-October 2011. Liquid-based cytology slides were evaluated according to the 2001 Bethesda System. Cytology specimens from a total of 81 women with abnormal cytology were included. Real-time PCR and NASBA assays were performed to detect HPV DNA and E6/E7 mRNA, respectively.
Results:
HPV DNA was identified in 73 samples (90.1%). HPV E6/E7 mRNA expression was observed in 45 samples (55.6%). A statistically significant difference was observed among cytological diagnosis groups. In 25 patients, a biopsy was performed during the follow-up. HPV DNA was detected in all of these patients. HPV E6/E7 expression was present only in CIN I-III diagnosed patients.
Conclusion:
The E6/E7 mRNA test is a robust indicator of cytological atypia and correlates better with progressive lesions than DNA assays.
