# ETIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF CERVICAL NEOPLASIA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1993 · $399,380

## Abstract

Over the last five years we have enrolled 672 women into a prospective
cohort study examining the role of specific types of HPV, other sexually
transmitted pathogens, and other risk factors in the development of CIN
2-3.  As of the present, these women have completed an average of 3.5
years of follow-up; 224 (33%) have undergone colposcopically-directed
biopsy, and 256 (38%) remain in follow-up.

We find that among sexually active young women: 1) cervical human
papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common, but usually can not be detected
after 8 months using southern transfer hybridization (STH) without PCR,
2) HPV 16 or 18 infection is associated with a surprisingly high and
rapid rate of progression to CIN 2-3, 3) repeated detection of any type
of HPV DNA is also associated with CIN 2-3 (adequate numbers for type-
specific analyses not yet available), and 4) other sexually transmitted
cervical pathogens, and young age at sexual debut (but not lifetime
number of sexual partners) are independent risk factors for progression.
We also find evidence for a possible interaction between HPV and other
cervical pathogens for development of CIN 2-3.

Over the next four years, by continuing to follow 250 women already
enrolled in the study, by further analyzing stored specimens using both
PCR-based assays and STH , and by enrolling and following an additional
250 women, we will extend our observations and address several additional
questions.  Specifically, we propose to further define how the risk of
CIN 2-3 is influenced by patterns of viral shedding (detected by repeated
testing using STH and PCR-based methods), and by cervical infection with
other sexually transmitted pathogens.  We plan to increase our sample of
women who have cervical infection by "low and intermediate risk" HPV 6,
11, 31, 33, 35, 42, 43, 44, 51, 52 to better define the risk of CIN 2-3
associated with these papillomavirus types.

This study will not only provide needed information on the natural
history of cervical HPV infection among those at high risk for cervical
pathology, it will also provide new insights into how HPV detection
methods may be used to augment cervical cancer prevention efforts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3172222
- **Project number:** 2R01CA034493-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURA A KOUTSKY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $399,380
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1983-12-01 → 1996-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3172222

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3172222, ETIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF CERVICAL NEOPLASIA (2R01CA034493-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3172222. Licensed CC0.

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