Detention of HPV L۱ Capsid Protein and hTERC Gene in Screening of Cervical Cancer

  Objective(s): To investigate the expression of human papilloma virus (HPV) L۱ capsid protein, and human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) in cervical cancer and the role of detection of both genes in screening of cervical cancer.   Materials and Methods: A total of ۳۰۹ patients were recruited and cervical exfoliated cells were collected. Immunocytochemistry was employed to detect HPV L۱ capsid protein, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to detect the hTERC. Results: The expression of HPV L۱ capsid protein reduced with the increase of the histological grade of cervical cells and was negatively related to the grade of cervical lesions. However, the expression of hTERC increased with the increase of the histological grade and positively associated with the grade of cervical lesions. The proportion of patients with L۱(-)/hTERC(+) was higher in patients with histological grade of CIN۲ or higher than that in those with histological grade of CIN۱. The L۱(+)/hTERC(-) and L۱(-)/hTERC(-) were negatively related to the grade of cervical lesions. L۱(-)/hTERC(+) was positively associated with the grade of cervical lesions. The L۱/hTERC ratio increased. The negative predictive value of both HPV L۱ and hTERC was higher than that of HPV L۱ or hTERC, but there was no marked difference in the screening efficacy of cervical cancer among HPV L۱, hTERC and HPV L۱+hTERC. Conclusion: HPV L۱ capsid protein and hTERC gene may serve as markers for the early diagnosis and prediction of cervical lesions. The increase in L۱/hTERC ratio reflects the progression of cervical lesions to a certain extent.