Against pregnancy and cancer
Scientists have found out which contraceptive prevents cervical cancer
Scientists have found that medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), the active ingredient of the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection, effectively prevents the development of cervical cancer in mice. The results of the study are published in the American Journal of Pathology (Baik et al., Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Prevention of Cervical Cancer through Progesterone Receptor in a Human Papillomavirus Transgenic Mouse Model).
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women. The main cause of its occurrence is considered to be the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although effective HPV vaccines exist, they are quite expensive and inaccessible to women in underdeveloped countries.
Cervical cancer associated with HPV, both in humans and mice, develops in several stages, starting with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and ending with invasive cancer.
American scientists from the University of Houston, led by Sang-Hyuk Chung, previously found that cervical neoplasia did not develop in mice with HPV if they received medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Now scientists have decided to check whether the MPA will be effective in cases where the QIN has already developed.
"Although HPV vaccines have been available since 2006, the incidence of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer caused by HPV has not significantly decreased. The high cost and lack of a global vaccination program have limited the use of these vaccines. Effective non–invasive means for the treatment of QING are urgently needed," Dr. Chun's words are quoted in a press release from Elsevier publishing house.
Scientists found that mice with CIN treated with MPA did not develop cervical cancer. The drug also contributed to the reduction of pre-existing precancerous lesions. This indicates that medroxyprogesterone acetate has a chemoprotective effect, not only preventing the progression of CIN to invasive cancer, but also contributing to its regression.
The results of the study showed that MPA suppresses proliferation – the proliferation of tissues by cell division – and promotes apoptosis – cell death – in the foci of CIN. But the preventive effect of MPA is noted only in the case of positive expression of the hormone progesterone. In transgenic mice with HPV, in which progesterone production was genetically prevented, there was no effect. Scientists believe that this aspect must be taken into account when developing a drug strategy for the treatment of CIN and cervical cancer with the help of MPA.
The authors are confident that MPA will be an effective means of chemoprophylaxis of cervical cancer, especially in women who do not have access to HPV vaccines, even though there are studies showing that MPA increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
"We are optimistic," says Chun. "Suspensions for injection of MPA are cheap and can be stored at room temperature. They are already being used as a Depot-Provera contraceptive, and thus the transfer of the drug into clinical practice will be rapid."
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