title: Sexually transmitted cancers and viruses.
abstract: Both cervical cancer and its precancerous state cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) have the characteristics of being sexually transmitted. Formerly herpes simplex virus (HSV) but more recently human papillomavirus (HPV) which both infect the cervix have been implicated in causation. The role of these viruses as possible initiators of cancer or as potential cofactors of cocarcinogens is discussed at the molecular level within the context of the disease process.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Virology Unit, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Macnab
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kitchener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*