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Study results from R. Kuner and colleagues in the area of cervical cancer published



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2008 JAN 18 -- According to recent research published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine - Jmm, "Specific types of hurnan papillornaviruses (HPVs) cause cervical cancer, the second most common tumor in women worldwide. Both cellular transformation and the maintenance of the oncogenic phenotype of HPVpositive tumor cells are linked to the expression of the viral E6 and E7 oncogenes."

"To identify downstream cellular target genes for the viral oncogenes, we silenced endogenous E6 and E7 expression in HPV-positive HeLa cells by RNA interference (RNAi). Subsequently, we assessed changes of the cellular transcriptorne by genome-wide microarray analysis. We identified 648 genes, which were either downregulated (360 genes) or upregulated (288 genes), upon inhibition of E6/E7 expression. A large fraction of these genes is involved in tumor-relevant processes, such as apoptosis control, cell cycle regulation, or spindle formation. Others may represent novel cellular targets for the HPV oncogenes, such as a large group of CMYC-associated genes involved in RNA processing and splicing," wrote R. Kuner and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Comparison with published microarray data revealed a substantial concordance between the genes repressed by RNAi-mediated E6/E7 silencing in HeLa cells and genes reported to be upregulated in HPV-positive cervical cancer biopsies."

Kuner and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Molecular Medicine - Jmm (Identification of cellular targets for the human papillomavirus E6 and E7 oncogenes by RNA interference and transcriptome analyses. Journal of Molecular Medicine - Jmm, 2007;85(11):1253-1262).

For additional information, contact R. Kuner, German Cancer Research Center, Neuenheimer Feld 242, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Molecular Medicine - Jmm is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords: Germany, Heidelberg, Biotechnology, Cervical Cancer, Cervical Carcinoma, Gene Therapy, HPV, Human Papillomavirus, Molecular Medicine, Oncology, RNA Research, Treatment, Viral, Virus, Women's Health.

This article was prepared by Genomics & Genetics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Genomics & Genetics Weekly via NewsRx.com.