Abstract: Abstract： Objective To analyze the differences of positive detection rate and copy number of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and E6/E7 mRNA between different grades of cervical lesions, and evaluate their clinical values in early screen⁃ ing of cervical cancer. Methods The cervical exfoliated cell samples from 154 women undergoing biopsy examination and 32 objects undergoing hysterectomy (control group) were collected in Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics in 2014. According to the pathological results of cervical biopsy, 154 samples were divided into low-grade squamous intraepi⁃ thelial lesion group (LSIL, n=51), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group (HSIL, n=71), and squamous cell carci⁃ noma group (SCC, n=32). HPV DNA was tested with hybrid capture technology, and E6/E7 mRNA was detected with fluores⁃ cence quantitative hybridization. Immunohistochemistry was performed by detecting E6/E7 protein in all patients after sur⁃ gery or cervical biopsy. Results Combined results of HPV DNA and E6/E7 mRNA demonstrated that the positive detection rate was significantly lower in control group than that of all levels of lesion groups (P < 0.05). The copy number of high risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA was significantly increased with the aggravation of lesions (P < 0.05), whereas no difference was found in that of HPV DNA. Compared with the normal control and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group, cervical cancer patients with mRNA copies > 10 000 E6/E7 were significantly increased in high- grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group. Immunohistochemical results showed that the positive detection rate of E6/E7 was significantly lower in control group than that of all levels of lesion groups (P < 0.05). The positive rate of E6/E7 was significantly higher in the high-grade squa⁃ mous intraepithelial lesion group than that of low-grade group (P < 0.05). Conclusion HPV infection is closely related to cervical abnormalities, which is one of effective measures for early screening of cervical cancer. The negative result of HPV DNA is very helpful to exclude the cervical abnormality, whereas the positive detection of mRNA has great value in predict⁃ ing the disease. Combined results of positive detection and copy number make a comprehensive evaluation for the risk of cer vical lesions.

Key words: uterine cervical neoplasms, human papillomavirus, HPV E6/E7 mRNA detection, HPV DNA detection, early cervical cancer screening