The quantification of human papillomavirus (HPV) oncogene transcripts, E6 and E7, may be predictive of viral oncogenesis and cancer progression. The main objectives of this study were to determine the HPV genotype prevalence and distribution in Edmonton, Alberta, and characterize a quantifiable association of HPV E6/E7 mRNA expression with the presence of cervical disease. Successful clinical trial design and patient enrolment lead to the first controlled characterization of HPV genotype epidemiology in Alberta. HPV-16 was identified as the most prevalent genotype, followed by several non-vaccine genotypes (HPV-31, -52). Despite rigorous experimentation and a significant correlation between high-risk HPV infection and cervical lesions (p<0.05), absolute quantification of viral oncogenesis was unsuccessful. The ability to quantify oncogene transcriptional activity may, in time, revolutionize cervical cancer screening programmes, akin to the Pap smear several decades ago. However, as experienced in this study and in others, great challenges and even greater questions remain unanswered.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1209 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Tchir, Jayme Dianna Radford |
| Contributors | Fuller, Jeff (Laboratory Medicine and Pathology), Tyrrell, Gregory (Laboratory Medicine and Pathology), Russell, Laurie (Laboratory Medicine and Pathology), LaPointe, Paul (Cell Biology) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 2770960 bytes, application/pdf |
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