• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women worldwide. Cervical cancer is significantly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The prevalence of HPV infection is influenced by geography, immune status, sexual history and genetic factors. For example, geographically, HPV prevalence varies from 1.5% to 39%. However, little is known about the relationship between HPV prevalence and age. An analysis of HPV prevalence by age will help determine when high-risk groups are exposed to HPV. Such an analysis could also demonstrate a correlation between specific HPV genotypes and age. In addition, the analysis might clarify the optimum age for using vaccines. In this study, HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among Korean and Chinese women are analyzed by age. The REBA HPV-ID$^{(R)}$ assay (YD diagnostics, Yong-in, Republic of Korea) was used for detecting HPV genotypes in uterine cervical liquid-based cytology samples from 533 women from Korea and 324 from East China (Western Shandong province. Women with severe dysplasia such as SCC (Squamous cell carcinoma) and HSIL (High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) groups were primarily in their 40s and 50s, whereas women with mild and moderate dysplasia (ASCUS and LSIL groups) were primarily in their 30s and 40s. Women with HPV genotype 16 and 18 infections were primarily in their 40s. The results suggest that HPV infection is associated with certain age groups in the Korean population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6145-6150
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• 2014

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed in immune and tumor cells and recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Cervical cancer (CC) is directly linked to a persistent infection with high risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) and could be associated with alteration of TLRs expression. TLR9 plays a key role in the recognition of DNA viruses and better understanding of this signaling pathway in CC could lead to the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. The present study was undertaken to determine the level of TLR9 expression in cervical neoplasias from Tunisian women with 53 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens, including 22 samples of invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC), 18 of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 7 of condyloma and 6 normal cervical tissues as control cases. Quantification of TLR9 expression was based on scoring four degrees of extent and intensity of immunostaining in squamous epithelial cells. TLR9 expression gradually increased from CIN1 (80% weak intensity) to CIN2 (83.3% moderate), CIN3 (57.1% strong) and ICC (100% very strong). It was absent in normal cervical tissue and weak in 71.4% of condyloma. The mean scores of TLR9 expression were compared using the Kruskall-Wallis test and there was a statistical significance between normal tissue and condyloma as well as between condyloma, CINs and ICC. These results suggest that TLR9 may play a role in progression of cervical neoplasia in Tunisian patients and could represent a useful biomarker for malignant transformation of cervical squamous cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4149-4154
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• 2016

Background: Cervical carcinoma is one of the main causes of mortality in women worldwide as well as in India. It occurs as a result of various molecular events that develop from the combined influences of an individual's genetic predisposition and external agents such as smoking and menstrual hygiene, for example. However, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the established major risk factor. The aim of the current study was to investigate p16 CpG island methylation and establish any correlation with mRNA expression in north Indian population. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 196 woman volunteer out of which 98 were cases and 98 healthy controls. For the analysis of methylation pattern, DNA extracted from blood samples was modified with a bisulfate kit and used as template for methylation specific PCR (MSP). Quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) was performed to check mRNA expression. Results: Correlation between methylation status of p16 gene and poor menstrual hygiene was significant (p=0.006), high parity cases showed methylation of p16 gene (p=0.031) with increased risk up to 1.86 times for cervical cancer and smoking was a strong risk factor associated with cervical cancer. We analyzed methylation pattern and found 60.3% methylation in cases with low mRNA expression level (0.014) as compare to controls (1.24). It was also observed that promoter methylation of p16 gene was significantly greater in FIGO stage III. Conclusions: We conclude that p16 methylation plays an important role in cervical cancer in the north Indian population and its methylation decreases mRNA expression. It can be used as an important and consistent blood biomarker in cervical cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6639-6641
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the clinical significance of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in PAP test in post-menopausal women and compare with reproductive age women. Materials and Methods: A total of 367 patients who referred to our gynecologic oncology clinic were included to the study between September 2012 and August 2013. Data for 164 post-menopausal (group 1) and 203 pre-menopausal (group 2) women with ASCUS cytology were evaluated retrospectively. Immediate colposcopy and endocervical curettage was performed for both groups and conization for all women with a result suggestive of CIN2-3. Histopathological results and demographic features of patients were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean age of the patients was $54.6{\pm}6.5$ years in group 1 and $38{\pm}6.6$ years in group 2. Some 14 (8.5%) of post-menopausal women and 36 (17.7%) of pre-menopausal women were current smokers (p=011). Totals of 38 (23.2%) post-menopausal and 64 (31.5%) pre-menopausal women were assessed for HPV-DNA. High risk HPV was detected in 7 (4.3%) and 21 (10.3%), respectively (p=0.029). Final histopathological results recorded were normal cervix, low grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN 1), and high grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3). In group 1 results were 84.8%, 12.2% and 1.8%, respectively, and in group 2 were 71.9%, 23.2% and 4.9%. There were no cases of micro invasive or invasive cervical carcinoma in either group. Two cases were detected as endometrial carcinoma in the menopausal group (1.2%). Conclusions: In current study we found that preinvasive lesions were statistically significantly higher in pre-menopausal women than post-menopausal women with ASCUS. Cervicitis was more common in menopausal women. Therefore, we think that in case of ASCUS in a post-menopausal woman there is no need for radical management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3101-3103
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• 2016

Background: According to the most recent estimation of GLOBOCAN, Cambodia has the highest incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia. A screen-and-treat strategy using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA test) and cryotherapy has been implemented in Cambodia's national cervical cancer screening program since 2013. However, where resources are available, cervical cytology with or without high-risk HPV DNA testing is the preferred screening method used in this country. Aim: This study aims to calculate the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology and explain the possible factors contributing to a reduced quality of cervical cytology among women participating in a hospital-based cervical cancer screening program in Cambodia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using information from the cytology and pathology database in the Department of Pathology of Calmette Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015. Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology, based on the Bethesda 2001 classification, was calculated. Data on the adequacy of cytological specimens were analyzed in order to explain the factors contributing to a reduced quality of cervical cytology interpretation. Results: Among 6,207 women who participated in the cervical cancer screening program at Calmette Hospital during 2012 and 2015, 388 (6.25%) had abnormal cytology, which could be classified into Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (92 cases; 1.48%), Atypical Squamous Cells - Cannot Exclude High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion (13 cases; 0.21%), Atypical Glandular Cells (11 cases; 0.18%), Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (221 cases; 3.56%), High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (26 cases; 0.42%), and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (25 cases; 0.40%). Unsatisfactory smears made up 12.2% of the total cases. The most frequently identified factor leading to unsatisfactory smears was the absence of cells from the transformation zone. Conclusions: The present study showed an overall prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology of 6.25%, which is comparable to that in many large population-based studies in the Asia Pacific region. Nevertheless, the remarkably high rate of unsatisfactory smears in this study justifies further improvement in specimen sampling among Cambodian gynecologists.