title: Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: biomarkers for improved prevention efforts.
abstract: While organized screening programs in industrialized countries have significantly reduced cervical cancer incidence, cytology-based screening has several limitations. Equivocal or mildly abnormal Pap tests require costly retesting or diagnostic work-up by colposcopy and biopsy. In low-resource countries, it has been difficult to establish and sustain cytology-based programs. Advances in understanding human papillomavirus biology and the natural history of human papillomavirus-related precancers and cancers have led to the discovery of a range of novel biomarkers in the past decade. In this article, we will discuss the potential role of new biomarkers for primary screening, triage and diagnosis in high-resource countries and their promise for prevention efforts in resource constrained settings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6120 Executive Blvd EPS 5024, Rockville MD 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Vikrant V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Sahasrabuddhe
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luhn
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wentzensen
mesh_terms: D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor