Molecular association between papillomavirus and cervix cancer

Abstract

A review is presented on the pathogenesis of condiloma and cancer induced by papillomavirus infection: through minimal epithelial wounds these viruses reach basal cells; cell proliferation is activated in the healing process thereby allowing the viral replication cycle to take place. The product of viral gen E7 joins Rb cell protein releasing the factor (E2F) that induces cell division. Proliferation should be opposed by apoptosis mediated by cell protein p53 but viral gen E6 inactivates the latter leading to an imbalance between cell division and death. With the occurrence of active, uncontrolled cell division the likelihood of malignancy development becomes high.