e- Ab Sensor-based Real-time Detection of Oncogenic Human Papilloma Viruses

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cervical carcinogenesis is proposed to be multi-step in nature. The major steps in cervical carcinogenesis include persistent infection of the metaplastic cervical epithelium with one or more of the oncogenic HPV infection, clonal progression of the infected epithelium to cervical precancer, and further invasion. Although these fundamental steps are well established, several new genetic and immunologic studies have shed light on the factors that influence each of these transitions. Over 150 different HPV subtypes have been identified so far, with a subset of these being classified as high risk for oncogenesis. Persistent infection with oncogenic HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. Polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-based assays show that HPV DNA exist in around 90.7- 96.6% patients with cervical cancer and in 13.4 -15.6% control women. About the detected HPV types in patients, in descending order of frequency, are types 16, 18, 45, 31, 33, 52, 58, and 35. Fifteen HPV types are classified as high-risk types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82); 3 are classified as probable high-risk types (26, 53, and 66); and 12 are classified as low-risk types (6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81). The most frequently detected high risk HPV types (HPV 16, 51, 52, and 59) are similar in male of different sites, which is compatible with the female incidence.

Electrosensing antibody probing system (e- Ab sensor), which was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of hapten, proteins, or viral antigen in medical samples, will be used for analyzing the interaction kinetics between anti-high risk HPV and its antigen (high-risk HPV) present in patients. The system incorporates the use of engineered semiconducive antibodies or virus in vertical and lateral chip (eAbchip) or lateral flow through (eAbsignal) formats. In electrosensing antibody probing, semiconductive antibodies are bound as a suitable electrosensing probe, which specifically and selectively binds targeted molecules (high-risk HPV) in the test specimens. From assessment of the electric signature of semiconductive anti- high-risk HPV antibodies, the eABprobe could offer sensitive detection and precise quantification of high-risk HPV.

To develop a real-time diagnostic technique with e- Ab sensor for high risk HPV detection, the investigators conduct a prospective clinical study. In comparison with results from direct sequencing of HPV, the investigators evaluate the performance of e- Ab sensor, including reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, and cross-reaction (such as detection of low risk HPV). The potential factors which may interfere with the results would be investigated. e- Ab sensor threshold decisions must maximize its sensitivity. Therefore, the threshold value in the test group is to find the decision could have 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity.With such a real-time diagnostic technique, the investigators hope to obtain information of patients in cost-saving and time-saving way and can give patients early treatment and offer more individualized treatment for our patients.