HPV mRNA and p16[ink4a] / Ki-67 detection for improved diagnosis and management of cervical neoplasia in smokers

Abstract

Persistent infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) is the main etiological agent in the development of cervical cancer. The use of HPV DNA testing in cervical screening programs is becoming increasingly common worldwide. However, due to the high prevalence of transient HPV infections in low grade lesions, HPV DNA testing is limited. Early evidence suggests that detection of HPV E6/E7 mRNA transcripts and p16 INK4A/Ki-67 over expression is more indicative of a clinically relevant infection than HPV DNA testing.