HPV-L1 capsid protein and human telomerase RNA component gene as markers to predict cervical lesion progression

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the significance of human papillomavirus L1 capsid protein (HPV-L1) and human telomerase RNA (hTERC) gene as markers for predicting the progression of cervical lesions. Patients who underwent cervical cancer screening at the gynecological outpatient department of the Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2014 to December 2016 were included. The HPV-L1 and hTERC was detected in 356 cases with abnormal cervical cytology or positive high-risk HPV (HR-HPV). The expression of hTERC and HPV-L1 in cervical exfoliated cells can be detected by FISH and immunohistochemistry. Patients with normal cervical histology had a hTERC amplification rate of 7.1%. This rate increased to 12.6% for CIN1, 86.1% for CIN2/3, and 100% for ICC (P < 0.001). Patients with normal cervical histology had a rate of 75.0% of HPV-L1 negative expression. This rate was 35.6% for CIN1, 84.7% for CIN2/3, and 100% for ICC (P < 0.001). The expression of HPV-L1(+) /hTERC(-) was 37.7% for normal, 46.8% for CIN1, 15.6% for CIN2/3, and 0% for ICC (P < 0.001). HPV-L1(-) /hTERC(+) expression was 4.6% in the normal group, 3.4% for CIN1, 63.5% for CIN2/3, and 100% for ICC (P < 0.001). In conclusion, as cervix lesions progress, the expression of hTERC is up-regulated while HPV-L1 is down-regulated. Combined detection of HPV-L1 and hTERC may help to predict the progression of cervical lesions.