Inflammatory pathways in cervical cancer - the UCT contribution.
Cervical cancer is the leading gynaecological malignancy in Southern Africa. The main causal factor for development of the disease is infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus. It is a multi-step disease with several contributing co-factors including multiple sexual partners, a compromised immune system and cervical inflammation caused by infections with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Inflammation involves extensive tissue remodelling events which are orchestrated by complex networks of cytokines, chemokines and bio-active lipids working across multiple cellular compartments to maintain tissue homeostasis. Many pathological disorders or diseases, including cervical cancer, are characterised by the exacerbated activation and maintenance of inflammatory pathways. In this review we highlight our findings pertaining to activation of inflammatory pathways in cervical cancers, addressing their potential role in pathological changes of the cervix and the significance of these findings for intervention strategies.
Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town. kurt.sales@uct.ac.za
Kurt Jason
KJ
Sales
Arieh Anthony
AA
Katz
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013019:South Africa; D014495:Universities; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D011453:Prostaglandins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases