Prof Hilary Powers
Human Nutrition Unit
University of Sheffield
Sheffield, UK
http:/www.shef.ac.uk/medicine/oncology
Project title
Evaluation of the role of cervical cell folate status and gene specific methylation motif as determinants of HPV persistence: a nested case-control study (2009/30)
Scientific abstract
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. It is most common in low-income countries, few of which have a screening program, none of which are realistic candidates for benefits that might accrue from HPV vaccines. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) increases the risk of progression of precancerous cervical neoplasia to cervical cancer. The group previously carried out a cross-sectional study that shows important associations between folate status, HPV infection, DNA methylation and grade of cervical neoplasia, supporting a role for folate status and gene methylation profile in determining HPV persistence. In order to better examine causation, a case-control study, nested in the ARTISTIC Trial, will be carried out, to investigate the importance of cervical cell folate concentration and a specific gene methylation motif, in determining HPV persistence in women with low-grade cervical neoplasia. The study will also use the ARTISTIC cohort to examine how the metabolic phenotype of cervical cells from women in whom an HPV infection persists, differs from those in whom the infection does not persist.
Results will inform the development of cost-effective diet-based strategies and prognostic biomarkers for risk-reduction, especially in those countries lacking a screening infrastructure.
Project plain language abstract
Background
Cervical cancer is the second most common in cancer in women worldwide and every year about half a million new cases are diagnosed. Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the established major risk factor for this cancer, but only a small proportion of women with HPV infection actually develop cervical cancer. Women who do not readily clear an infection with HPV are more likely to develop cervical cancer and it is therefore essential to understand what factors influence the persistence of HPV infection. Some research suggests that the amount of folate (a vitamin that is essential for DNA manufacture and also for the production of red blood cells and normal growth) in the diet is important and a chemical change to DNA (called methylation) seems to be important too.
Project details
Using cervical cells that have already been collected and stored from a large number of women who took part in a study of HPV infection, the amount of folate in cervical cells will be measured. In addition the pattern of DNA methylation in some genes important to cancer will be examined to see whether both these measurements can predict which women overcome the HPV infection.
Outcomes from this study will in turn help us understand why some women develop cervical cancer and will be important in the development of intervention measures, especially in those low-income countries lacking a screening infrastructure.
| Institution and location | Degree | Year | Scientific Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Leicester, UK | BSc Biological Sciences | 1972 | Human Biochemistry |
| London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK | PhD | 1979 | Nutritional Biochemistry |
| 2004–Present | Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and Head of Human |
| 2000–2004 | Reader in Nutritional Biochemistry and Head of Human Nutrition Unit, Division of Clinical Sciences, University of Sheffield |
| 1995–1999 | Senior Lecturer, Nutritional Biochemistry, Division of Child Health |
| 1989–1995 | Lecturer in Nutritional Biochemistry, University Department of Paediatrics, University of Sheffield |
| 1981–1989 | Scientist, University of Cambridge and Medical Research Council, Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge |
Research interests
The nature of and the mechanisms for the role of B vitamins in the pathophysiology of chronic disease.
