CLINICAL-APPLICATION OF HPV TYPING IN CERVICAL-CANCER

Certain human papaillomavirus (HPV) types are major risk factors for t he development of cervical neoplasia. The value of HPV DNA testing in the management of patients with disease and in population screening is a subject of controversy. Since the introduction of molecular biology into the HPV field, there have been rapid advances and improvements i n HPV diagnosis. The various molecular diagnostic methods for detectio n of HPV DNA (dot blot hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, in situ hybridization, Hybrid Capture Test, and polymerase chain reaction ; PCR) could be selected by faking into consideration some factors suc h as characterstics of sample, sensitivity of HPV test and expenses. T he HPV DNA testing would be a clinically useful diagnostic method, whe n used in conjunction with the Pap smear in population screening or in conjunction with cytology and colposcopy to identify the women infect ed with high-risk HPVs or women who had equivocal cervical lesions. De spite the confusion, a multitude of reports demonstrate that HPV DNA t esting has the clinical utility, and future investigations should be d irected at more accurately delineating its role in human health care.