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The Roles of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Risk of Cervical Cancer: A Review of Classical Twin Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2012

Elya E. Moore ,
John D. Wark ,
John L. Hopper ,
Bircan Erbas  and
Suzanne M. Garland
Elya E. Moore*
Affiliation:
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
John D. Wark
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, and Bone and Mineral Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia
John L. Hopper
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
Bircan Erbas
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Australia School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Suzanne M. Garland
Affiliation:
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Australia
*
Address for Correspondence: Elya Moore, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia. Email: elya.moore@gmail.com

Abstract

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Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Persistent infection with an oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary, but not sufficient, for its development. Over many years, only a small proportion of women with chronic HPV infection progress to develop disease. The role of host genes and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of, or predisposition to, cervical cancer is still unclear. We conducted a systematic review of published literature in MEDLINE–PubMed to identify studies of cervical cancer susceptibility that used a twin study design. We used standard MeSH terms (controlled vocabulary) as well as specific free-text terms and combinations of terms related to cervical cancer, with no restriction on publication date. We performed a full text review to ensure the identified articles met our inclusion criteria and, if so, extracted information on demographics, sample size, study definitions, and key statistical findings. Of the 285 articles identified, three utilized a classical twin design and reported results specific to cervical cancer. The studies were based on cancer registry data from Scandinavia, with sample sizes ranging from 312 to 710 twin pairs. The findings from one study were consistent with a genetic mechanism for the causation of carcinoma in situ. Future research studies using the strength of the classic twin design, together with incorporation of HPV DNA status, are indicated to determine whether there is a potential role for genetic factors in the development of cervical cancer or high-grade cervical dysplasia from chronic oncogenic HPV infection.

Keywords

cervical cancerclassical twin studieshuman papillomavirus
Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 15 , Issue 1: Special Section: The Intersection of Behavioral Genetics and Political Science , February 2012 , pp. 79 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012