Identification of Genetic Variants of Human Papillomavirus in a Group of Mexican HIV/AIDS Patients and Their Possible Association with Cervical Cancer

Clinicopathological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma in HIV-infected patients

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with an increasing incidence over the last decades. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced immune deficiency was one of risk factors for cancer tumorigenesis and development. The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of PTC in HIV-infected patients and discuss possible connections between PTC and HIV infection.

Methods

A total of 17670 patients from September 2009 to April 2022 who underwent PTC surgery for the first time were analyzed retrospectively. At last, 10 patients of PTC with HIV infection (HIV-positive group) and 40 patients without HIV infection (HIV-negative group) were included. The differences in general data and clinicopathological characteristics between the HIV-positive group and the HIV-negative group were analyzed.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in age and gender between the HIV-positive group and the HIV-negative group (P<0.05), and males and <55 years old accounted for a higher proportion in the HIV-positive group. The differences in tumor diameter and capsular invasion between the HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group were statistically significant (P<0.05). Meanwhile, in terms of extrathyroid extension (ETE), lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, the HIV-positive group were significantly higher than the HIV-negative group (P<0.001).

Conclusion

HIV infection was a risk factor for larger tumors, more severe ETE, more lymph node metastasis, and more distant metastasis. HIV infection could promote PTC proliferation and make PTC more aggressive. Many factors such as tumor immune escape, secondary infection, etc. may are responsible for these effects. More attention and more thorough treatment should be paid to these patients.

Epidemiology and Molecular Biology of HPV Variants in Cervical Cancer: The State of the Art in Mexico

Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be a major public health problem in Mexico, ranking second among cancers in women. A persistent infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) is the main risk factor for CC development. In addition, a significant fraction of other cancers including those of the anus, oropharynx, and penis are also related to HPV infection. In CC, HPV-16 is the most prevalent high-risk HPV type, followed by HPV-18, both being responsible for 70% of cases. HPV intratype variant lineages differ in nucleotide sequences by 1–10%, while sublineages differ by 0.5–1%. Several studies have postulated that the nucleotide changes that occur between HPV intratype variants are reflected in functional differences and in pathogenicity. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that HPV-16 and -18 intratype variants differentially affect molecular processes in infected cells, changing their biological behavior that finally impacts in the clinical outcome of patients. Mexico has participated in providing knowledge on the geographical distribution of intratype variants of the most prevalent HPVs in premalignant lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer, as well as in other HPV-related tumors. In addition, functional studies have been carried out to assess the cellular effects of intratype variations in HPV proteins. This review addresses the state of the art on the epidemiology of HPV-16 and HPV-18 intratype variants in the Mexican population, as well as their association with persistence, precancer and cervical cancer, and functional aspects related to their biological behavior.