title: Cervical cancer and human papillomaviruses: inactivation of retinoblastoma and other tumor suppressor pathways.
abstract: Infection with human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is a major public health burden worldwide and is associated with benign and malignant lesions of the skin and genital tract. HPV causes cervical cancer, which represents the second most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. Functions of the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 are essential for carcinogenesis and for support of the viral life cycle. We will begin by discussing the relationship between HPV infection and disease, followed by a review of E6 and E7 activities and their respective cellular targets. Particular emphasis will be placed on established and newly discovered mechanisms by which E7 inhibits members of the cellular retinoblastoma protein family. We will then describe how current research links the above molecular interactions to malignant transformation as well as to aspects of the viral life cycle in vitro and in vivo. As a result of decades of intense HPV research, promising therapies to prevent infection and to treat HPV associated cancers are now on the horizon. We will conclude our review by a description of potential gene therapeutic and hormonal approaches and of new developments in the design of effective vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Medical Center and The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Susanne I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein