HPV-16/58 Infections Pose Critical Risks for Cervical Cancer Progression in Korean Women, Scientists Say
Update 13.12.2022
Scientists from Korea National Institute of Health investigate risk factors and disease progressions rates associated with cervical cancer-causing HPV infections among Korean women
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
infections are the leading cause for cervical cancer development and
progression. Recognizing the HPV type present in cervical lesions and the
progression risk associated with it is crucial for planning preventative
measures. In a new systematic review, researchers from Korea National Institute
of Health identify the most prevalent HPV types posing high risks for cancer
progression in Korean women, opening doors to a better HPV prevention program.
Image Caption: Researchers from KNIH investigated
the progression and development of cervical cancer associated with persistent
human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, revealing new insights.
Image Credit: Kateryna
Kon from Shutterstock.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and results in infections
and lesions in the cervix. In 2018 alone, almost 570,000 cases of cervical
cancer and 311,000 deaths from the disease were reported. Cervical cancer is
primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV),
with HPV type 16 (HPV-16) and HPV-18 causing 70% of cervical cancer and precancerous
lesions.
However, the prevalence of HPV types varies from region to region. For
instance, HPV-33 is predominant in Europe, whereas HPV-52, 53, and 58 prevail
in Asia. In South Korea, HPV-16 along with the prevalent Asian HPV types have
been associated with high-risk HPV infections (HR-HPV).
To understand the major risk factors associated with
cervical cancer, it is necessary to identify the types of HPV prevalent in cervical
lesions. Many South Korean HPV cohort studies have indicated that even the progression
rate of abnormal lesions varied depending on the specific HPV type. Vaccines
are accordingly designed to target specific HR-HPV types. Knowing the prevalent
HPV type among a demographic is, therefore, crucial for monitoring the effectiveness
of a vaccine.
To this end, researchers from the Korea National Institute of Health filled in the gaps
with a recent article published in the Virology
Journal. The team, led by Dr. Byeong-Sun
Choi, conducted a systematic review to investigate the presence of high and low-risk
HPV types found in abnormal cervical lesions. Dr. Choi explains, “The number
of incidences of cervical cancer in Korea has decreased from 4,443 cases in
1999 to 3,500 in 2018. However, it is still the eighth most common cancer in
women. Our research aims to address this issue by understanding the disease
better and fine-tuning the vaccination efforts.” The approval for this
study was obtained from the institutional review board (IRB) of the Korea
Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) (approved no. 2018–06-02-P-A).
To estimate HPV prevalence, the team collected results
for Pap smear—a test used to check for abnormalities in
the cervix that are indicative of cancer—from seven medical literature databases
up to July 2019, and looked at the Korea HPV Cohort study data to evaluate the
risk of cancer progression. Additionally, they assessed the risk
of disease progression in 686 HPV-positive women.
Based on 23 studies included in the
review, HPV-16, -58, -53, -70, -18, and -68 were the six most prevalent
genotypes. HPV-16 was the most prevalent, followed by HPV-58, -53, -70, -18,
and -68. In women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, including
cancer, HPV-16, -18, and -58 were the most prevalent.
In the longitudinal cohort study,
the hazard ratio of disease progression from atypical squamous cells of
uncertain significance to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was
significantly higher among those with persistent HPV-58 and HPV-16 infections.
These insights could go a long way in assisting the development of better
HPV prevention programs. “Our study has made it possible to confirm the
distribution of HPV based on the stage and risk of disease progression from continuous
infection with major HPV types. The results can not only be used as a basis for
a National Immunization Program for HPV but also guide future follow-up
research on the role of HPV and vaccination in cancer development,”
concludes Dr. Choi.
We certainly hope his visions are not too far from being realized!
Reference
Authors
Title of original paper
Journal |
Jaehyun Seong 1†, Sangmi Ryou1†,
JeongGyu Lee1, Myeongsu Yoo1, Sooyoung Hur2,
Byeong‑Sun Choi1* and The Korea HPV Cohort
Study
Enhanced disease progression due to persistent HPV‑16/58 infections in Korean women: a systematic review and the Korea HPV cohort study
Virology
Journal |
|
|
DOI
Affiliations |
10.1186/s12985-021-01657-2
1 Division
of Clinical Research, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Korea
National Institute of Health, Republic of Korea 2
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The
Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. |
About Korea National Institute of Health
The Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH), one
of the major operating components of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention
Agency, leads the nation’s
medical research. Over the past seven decades, the KNIH has made unwavering
efforts to enhance the public’s health and innovate biomedical research. The
KNIH seeks to eradicate diseases and make people healthier. The KNIH
establishes a scientific basis and evidence underlying health policy as well as
provides national research infrastructures. We also promote public health
research. To this end, we make efforts to enrich a health research environment
by granting funds to research projects and keeping our resources, data, and
facilities more open and accessible to researchers.
Website:
http://www.nih.go.kr/eng/
About Dr. Byeong‑Sun Choi
Dr. Byeong-Sun Choi is the Director of Division
of Chronic Viral Disease, Center for Emerging Virus Research, National
Institute of Infectious Disease, since 2020. He is also the vice-president for
The Korean Society for AIDS. His research interest lies in the field of chronic
viral research. He has published 80 papers and has 25 patents to his name. With
the help of his co-workers, he aims to establish the infrastructures for HIV-1
latency study in Korea, involving the delivery of therapeutic drugs targeting
latent HIV, and an in vivo humanized latent HIV animal model.