title: Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus.
abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been considered to be an etiologic factor for anogenital cancers, such as cervical cancer and possibly a subset of cancers of the aerodigestive tract. These small, non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses primarily infect the epithelium and induce benign as well as malignant lesions of the mucosa and skin. Some HPVs are considered to be high-risk due to their strong implication in carcinogenesis, particularly the malignant progression of cervical tumors. The recognition of papillomaviruses as a major etiologic agent for human cancers has increased their medical importance and stimulated research into developing strategies for the screening, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HPV-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
authors.forename: Talia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoory
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monie
authors.forename: Patti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gravitt
authors.forename: T-C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology