Prognostic significance of serum antibodies to HPV-16 L1 virus-like particles in patients with invasive cervical cancer.
BACKGROUND
Persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) is a prerequisite for the development of cervical cancer. The prognostic value of HPV-16 capsid antibodies in patients with invasive cervical cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological factors were investigated.


METHODS
Serum samples from 150 patients with invasive cervical cancer and 40 healthy female control subjects were analyzed by ELISA for HPV-specific antibodies to HPV-16 L1 virus-like particles (VLPs).


RESULTS
HPV-16 L1 antibodies were detectable in 65 out of 150 patients (43.3%) and in 12 out of 40 controls (30.0%). Seropositivity was correlated with prolonged, progression-free (p =0.012) and overall survival (p=0.043). Especially in the early FIGO-stages I and II antibodies to HPV-16 L1, VLPs predicted a better outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies to HPV-16 L1 capsid protein may be of prognostic value for patients with invasive cervical cancer and lack of HPV-16 L1 antibodies may indicate a group of patients with a poor prognosis.
Skiba
D
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Mehlhorn
G
G
Fasching
P A
PA
Beckmann
M W
MW
Ackermann
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; C063317:L1 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16