Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus.
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.
Hoory
Talia
T
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
Monie
Archana
A
Gravitt
Patti
P
Wu
T-C
TC
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