preliminary study on the relationship between trichomonas vaginalis and cervical cancer in Egyptian women

ABSTRACT

The relationship between Trichomonas vaginalis and cancer cervix was investigated by detection of T. vaginalis antibodies in the sera of 48 invasive cervical cancer patients and 100 random age matched female controls using western immunoblot technique. It was found that antibodies to T. vaginalis were detected in sera of 18.75% of cervical cancer patients compared with 5% of the controls. The increase was evident in the age group 40-49 years and of those with squamous cell carcinoma [6/9] and mainly with grades II and III. All the reactive sera of invasive cancer patients reacted strongly with T. Vaginalis surface antigen of about 109.9, 86.1, 56.2, 48.2 and 30 Kda. So, there may be an association between T. vaginalis and the risk of cervical cancer, as there was more than 3-fold increase in the prevalence of T. Vaginalis antibodies in patients with invasive cervical cancer compared with the age matched female controls. This study highlighted the importance of clinically detection of T. vaginalis infection, which is among the factors involved in the genesis and progression of cervical cancer. In addition, its treatment would aid in restricting the rising incidence of this disease