Translational approaches to improving cervical screening.
Screening programmes for cervical cancer using the current test--the Pap smear--have markedly reduced the incidence of the disease. However, an individual Pap test is of limited sensitivity and is difficult and expensive to perform. Increased understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of cervical cancer indicates that new approaches to screening might offer increased accuracy, affordability and the potential for automation. Such approaches exemplify how improved understanding of the biology of neoplasia might be translated into clinical benefit.
Baldwin
Peter
P
MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XZ, UK.
Laskey
Ronald
R
Coleman
Nicholas
N
D019342:Acetic Acid; D001331:Automation; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003127:Colposcopy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019342:Acetic Acid