Estrogen Receptors Linked to Risk of Cervical Cancer

Researchers have found that women who express higher levels of estrogen receptors are significantly more likely to have cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, suggesting that estrogen receptors may play an important part in cervical HPV infections. Their study was published in the June 2002 issue of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Investigators from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, USA) examined 175 sexually active women for HPV infection during routine examinations at a sexual health clinic. In addition, the number of estrogen receptors in the cervix was determined by measuring how many times the genes for the receptors were expressed.

The women involved in the study were aged between 14 and 44 with half of them younger than 25. Four out of 10 women tested positive for HPV, mostly HPV 16, the strain linked to cervical cancer. Six women had two strains, and one had three. The younger the woman, the greater was her risk of infection.
Results of the study showed that 40% of the women (n = 70) tested positive for HPV of the cervix. Of those women testing positive for HPV, 99% had detectable levels of estrogen receptors (n = 69/70). HPV cervical infections were independently associated with the presence of estrogen receptors and greater numbers of sexual partners. Almost all the women with HPV infection had detectable levels of estrogen receptors. Every 10% increase in receptor numbers tripled the likelihood of HPV infection.
The authors of the study concluded that women who expressed higher levels of estrogen receptors were significantly more likely to have cervical HPV infection. These results suggest that estrogen receptors may play an important part in cervical HPV infections.




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