Natural History, Genomics and Risk Assessment for Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

DCEG has been studying cervical and other HPV-related cancers since the 1980s.

Within DCEG, several groups continue to study the most interesting and important research topics. Several projects have led to advances in screening and clinical management.

Advances in understanding of HPV natural history and etiology have led in two major directions: (1) vaccinology and immunoepidemiology; and (2) screening and clinical management. The first is conducted within the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch; the second is based in the Clinical Genetics Branch, because of the remarkable similarity between the HPV work and familial cancer research. The HPV screening and clinical management area includes three major components:

1. Exploration of remaining important topics in HPV natural history related to cervical multi-stage carcinogenesis
2. Study by intensive genomic and epigenetic approaches why certain HPV types and type variants are such powerful carcinogens while genetically-related types are not
3. Translation of natural history estimates into useful clinical risk prediction tools to guide cervical cancer prevention

For more information on HPV screening and clinical management, contact Mark Schiffman or Nicolas Wentzensen.

Selected studies include:

• ASC-US/LSIL Triage Study (ALTS)
• Biopsy Study to Improve Detection of Cervical Precancer
• Cervical Cancer Screening Among HIV-Infected Women in India
• Cervical Visualization Study
• Guanacaste HPV Natural History Study
• Genomic Analysis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Improvement of Risk-Informed Screening (IRIS)
• Methylation of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer Risk 
• PaP Cohort: Persistence and Progression of HPV Infection
• Risk Prediction Modeling for Cervical Cancer
• Study to Understand Cervical Cancer Early Endpoints and Determinants (SUCCEED)
• STRIDES: Studying Risk and Improving Disparities of Cervical Cancer in Mississippi