THE ONCOGENIC POTENTIAL OF CANDIDA IN THE FEMALE GENITAL-TRACT

The possible role of Candida species in carcinogenesis at the uterine cervix was investigated in 226 females attending a colposcopy clinic. Approximately 34% of the 226 subjects harbored Candida species in cerv ical/vaginal secretions, but there was no association with any particu lar histologic abnormality. Two independent analytical procedures were used for strain discrimination of the isolates of C. albicans, but ag ain no relationship was found between individual strains and histologi c diagnoses. Only three C. glabrata strains were isolated, but they we re al in association with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II or III. A total of 18 strains of C. albicans, one C. glabrata and one C. parapsilosis all inhibited the formation of the nitrosamine nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA) from precursors. Furthermore, C. albicans strains did not convert NDMA to carcinogenic metabolites. The results of this study do not suggest that C. albicans has a role in cervical carcinog enesis.