Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
Ann Med. 2022 Dec;54(1):1202-1211. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2067897.
The East Africa Consortium was formed to study the epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer and the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on HPV and cervical cancer, and to encourage collaborations between researchers in North America and East African countries. To date, studies have led to a better understanding of the influence of HIV infection on the detection and persistence of oncogenic HPV, the effects of dietary aflatoxin on the persistence of HPV, the benefits of antiretroviral therapy on HPV persistence, and the differences in HPV detections among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women undergoing treatment for cervical dysplasia by either cryotherapy or LEEP. It will now be determined how HPV testing fits into cervical cancer screening programs in Kenya and Uganda, how aflatoxin influences immunological control of HIV, how HPV alters certain genes involved in the growth of tumours in HIV-infected women. Although there have been challenges in performing this research, with time, this work should help to reduce the burden of cervical cancer and other cancers related to HIV infection in people living in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as optimized processes to better facilitate research as well as patient autonomy and safety. KEY MESSAGESThe East Africa Consortium was formed to study the epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer and the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on HPV and cervical cancer.Collaborations have been established between researchers in North America and East African countries for these studies.Studies have led to a better understanding of the influence of HIV infection on the detection and persistence of oncogenic HPV, the effects of dietary aflatoxin on HPV detection, the benefits of antiretroviral therapy on HPV persistence, and the differences in HPV detections among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women undergoing treatment for cervical dysplasia by either cryotherapy or LEEP.
东非联盟成立的目的是研究人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染和宫颈癌的流行病学，以及人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染对 HPV 和宫颈癌的影响，并鼓励北美和东非国家的研究人员之间开展合作。迄今为止，这些研究使人们更好地了解了 HIV 感染对致癌 HPV 的检测和持续存在的影响、膳食黄曲霉毒素对 HPV 检测的影响、抗逆转录病毒疗法对 HPV 持续存在的影响，以及接受冷冻疗法或 LEEP 治疗宫颈上皮内瘤变的 HIV 感染和未感染妇女之间 HPV 检测的差异。现在将确定 HPV 检测如何适用于肯尼亚和乌干达的宫颈癌筛查计划，黄曲霉毒素如何影响 HIV 的免疫控制，HPV 如何改变 HIV 感染妇女肿瘤生长中涉及的某些基因。尽管在进行这项研究时遇到了挑战，但随着时间的推移，这项工作应该有助于减轻撒哈拉以南非洲地区 HPV 感染人群的宫颈癌和其他与 HIV 感染相关癌症的负担，并优化流程，以更好地促进研究以及患者的自主权和安全性。
关键信息
东非联盟成立的目的是研究人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）感染和宫颈癌的流行病学，以及人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染对 HPV 和宫颈癌的影响。
北美和东非国家的研究人员为此项研究建立了合作关系。
这些研究使人们更好地了解了 HIV 感染对致癌 HPV 的检测和持续存在的影响、膳食黄曲霉毒素对 HPV 检测的影响、抗逆转录病毒疗法对 HPV 持续存在的影响，以及接受冷冻疗法或 LEEP 治疗宫颈上皮内瘤变的 HIV 感染和未感染妇女之间 HPV 检测的差异。
