Cervical Cancer Ifeoma Iwobi A CHE 350

What is Cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm arising from cells originating in the cervix uteri. In other words, it is a disease in which the cells of the cervix become abnormal and start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors.

Cause of Cervical Cancer  Human papilloma virus is an antecedent for cervical cancer.  It has been detected in about 90% cervical cancer specimens.  It is the second most common cancer in women globally.  It is the only cancer with a single major carcinogen.

 Over a 100 strains of HPV has been identified.  People with strains 60, 11,42,43,44 are at low risk of getting cervical cancer.  People with stains 31, 33, 35, 51, 52 and 58 are at intermediate risk of getting the infection  People with strains 16, 18, 45 and 56 are at high risk of getting cervical cancer.

Mechanism  E7 binds and phosphorylates pRB, thereby activating E2F transcription factor.  DNA replication proteins of host cell are then expressed then unchecked S-phase occurs.  E6 marks p53 for proteolytic degradation so it cannot activate apoptosis.

 E6 is pleiotropic. It stimulates the expression of transcription factor HIF-1α.  HIF-1α is normally expressed in instances of hypoxia. It does this by stabilizing p53 in order to induce apoptosis of hypoxic cells.  However, p53 is degraded by E6 in HPV infected cells.  This makes HIF-1α stimulate neoangiogenesis for tumor cells.

Treatment  Cervical cancer has no cure.  HPV has no cure  Cervical cancer can be removed surgically.

Hypothesis By increasing the number of test carried out using vinegar, the incidence of cervical cancer will reduce dramatically.

Aim  To use vinegar to test to detect early stages of cervical cancer.  Reduce the risk of getting stage 4 cancer.  Reduce amount surgical procedures and their risk.  Reduce the risk of loosing cervix, uterus ovaries or womb.

Significance  Help reduce the number incidence of cervical cancer.  Prolong life span.  Help save organs for future use.

Innovation  Vinegar which is a liquid consisting mainly of acetic acid (CH3COOH) and water.  The acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria.  Vinegar is used domestically as a cooking ingredient or as a general household cleanser.

Reference  Allison, J. S., Jiang, M. & Milner, J. (2009). Oncogenic viral protein HPV E7 up-regulates the SIRT1 longevity protein in human cervical cancer cells. Open-Access Impact Journal on Aging. Retrieved from  Associated Press. (2013). Vinegar cancer test saves lives, India study finds. FoxNews.com. Retrieved from saves-lives-india-study-finds/  Wells, B. (2008). HPV & Cervical Cancer Mechanisms. Retrieved from mechanisms  Oncohealth. (2013). Cervical Cancer Diagnosis. Oncohealthcorp.com. Retrieved from