Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Gynecological Diseases was established, which is expected to develop more accurate and effective HPV detection methods
Our reporter Zhang Bingqing correspondent Sun Meiyan Qian Bingbing
In the HPV infection consultation clinic of the Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University, many anxious patients come to see the doctor every day: Doctor, if I test positive for HPV, will I get cervical cancer?
Professor Wang Hui, Dean of the Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University, said that although high-risk HPV infection is a clear cause of cervical cancer, more than 80% of women have at least one HPV infection in their lives, but most of them are "transient", only 1% to 4%. Persistent infection occurs in % of the population, which in turn develops into cervical cancer. The occurrence of cervical cancer is only a "small probability event of common viral infection".
However, the currently widely used cervical cancer screening strategies in my country are to detect the HPV infection status, which cannot effectively screen out high-risk groups. Once precancerous lesions require invasive treatment, these have aggravated the anxiety and anxiety of HPV-infected patients.
Recently, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gynecological Major Diseases was unveiled, which is expected to launch more accurate and effective HPV detection methods and non-invasive treatment for reversing malignant lesions.
Research and development of new cervical cancer screening test reagents
Accurately determine whether there is a possibility of cancer
According to the statistics of WHO in 2020, there were 600,000 new cases of cervical cancer and about 340,000 deaths worldwide, ranking first in the global female reproductive system malignancy. Among them, there were nearly 110,000 new cervical cancer cases and deaths in my country. Nearly 60,000 people, accounting for about 1/5 of the world's total, seriously endanger the health of women in my country.
Persistent high-risk HPV infection is a necessary factor for the development of precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer. For this reason, the World Health Organization advocates that the coverage rate of HPV vaccine for girls under 15 years old should reach more than 90%, and adult women aged 35 to 45 years old should receive HPV vaccine. The coverage rate of effective cervical cancer screening should reach more than 70%, and at least 90% of women with positive screening should receive reasonable treatment and management.
Professor Wang Hui said, "The current HPV detection reagents have high sensitivity and low specificity, and cannot accurately identify high-risk groups of cervical cancer caused by persistent infection of high-risk HPV." Host genome integration, HPV integration is an important molecular basis for cervical carcinogenesis.
Based on this theoretical basis, the team applied the second-generation high-throughput sequencing technology to develop a new HPV integrated detection kit.
It can simultaneously sequence millions or even hundreds of millions of DNA sequences to detect whether HPV has integrated into the human genome, and to assess the site of integration and the risk of cervical cancer.
"If there is no risk of cancer, HPV-infected patients only need to be observed and followed up; if there is a possibility of cancer, they should be referred to colposcopy for further examination. This can not only avoid excessive medical treatment, reduce medical waste, but also ease the nervousness of HPV-infected patients. ."
In the later stage, relying on the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gynecological Major Diseases, multi-center clinical trials will be carried out across the country, and the clinical transformation of HPV integrated detection kits will be actively promoted.
Cervical precancer without surgery
Editing cancer genes reverses malignant transformation
High-risk patients screened based on the new HPV integrated detection kit generally have to enter the colposcopy link. Some of these patients will be diagnosed with precancerous lesions, and these groups are likely to develop cervical cancer.
Professor Wang Hui said that the treatment of precancerous lesions is an important part of the secondary prevention of cervical cancer. The traditional treatment method is to perform cervical conical resection to remove the lesions.
But this is an invasive procedure that can damage cervical function and increase the risk of premature birth and miscarriage.
In 1968, Dr. Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans and Hamilton Othanel Smith first extracted restriction enzymes from Escherichia coli, which are called "molecular scissors". Enzymes can find specific cleavage points on DNA and sever the double-stranded interlaces of DNA molecules.
The three scientists were awarded the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The laboratory is also looking for such "molecular scissors", in order to cut oncogenes to achieve molecular conization, reverse the malignant transformation of cervical lesions, and ultimately block the occurrence of cervical cancer.
Professor Wang Hui said that in addition to cervical cancer, the laboratory will also focus on the hot and difficult issues in the research of major gynecological diseases such as ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and endometriosis, and carry out original research on basic and clinical applications.
At the same time, the laboratory should build a stable and sustainable talent echelon structure, vigorously cultivate clinical scientists and medical scientists with international vision and outstanding innovation ability, promote the sustainable development of the laboratory, and further enhance the influence of the diagnosis and treatment of major gynecological diseases in Zhejiang Province. Prevention and treatment of major gynecological diseases in three aspects: investigation, diagnosis and treatment, protection of female reproductive health, and support for "Healthy China".
Academician Martin, director of the laboratory's academic committee, said that the future construction of the laboratory should firmly grasp the new direction of development, inherit and carry forward traditional advantages, actively serve development, and dare to explore the frontier of science and technology.
In terms of talent introduction and cultivation, young scientific and technological talents should be encouraged to take on important responsibilities, give full play to the leading role of their advantages, give full play to the leading role of laboratories in the field of women's life and health in Zhejiang Province, actively implement conditional guarantee measures, strengthen resource opening and sharing, and create a good scientific research ecological environment.