Persistent High-Risk HPV Infection and Molecular Changes Related to the Development of Cervical Cancer

Abstract EN

This article is a preliminary investigational study that is aimed at giving hints about the interesting biomarkers involved in the transition process from low-grade cervix lesion to invasive cervical cancer.

Our study focuses on the risk factors and tumour molecular changes in one patient.

First in 1986, she was diagnosed a preinvasive cervix lesion.

Then, 16 years later, she was diagnosed an invasive cervical cancer.

The 2002 diagnosis was a squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, stage IIIB (FIGO), whereas in 1986, she had been diagnosed a high-grade squamous intraepithelial cervical lesion.

Retrospectively, the analysis of samples of preneoplastic lesions and invasive cervical cancer confirmed the histopathological diagnoses and detected the presence of HPV type and HPV-16 variants, as well as the overexpression of proteins such as hTERT, IGF1Rα, IGF1Rβ, CAIX, and GLUT1.

Finally, the Arg72Pro polymorphism was detected in TP53.

The role of high-risk HPV and HPV-16 variants and of hTERT, IGF1Rα, IGF1Rβ, CAIX, and GLUT1 variations seemed confirmed in the development and progression of cervical cancer.

As a result, analyzing the molecular changes in one and same tumour that progresses from a low-grade cervix lesion to invasive cervical cancer could provide valuable information in order to improve detection, diagnosis, and treatment in the future.