lncRNA PVT1 Expression in Cervical Cancer: Association with HPV Status, Lymph Node Involvement, and Treatment Response

Anusha Gopinathan; Leela Kakithakara Vajravelu; Gopika Rajeev; Ram Madhavan

doi:10.31557/APJCC.2026.11.5.691

Authors

Anusha Gopinathan Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.
Leela Kakithakara Vajravelu Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.
Gopika Rajeev Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute [WIA], The TamilNadu M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India.
Ram Madhavan Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute [WIA], The TamilNadu M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCC.2026.11.5.691

Keywords:

lncRNA PVT-1;, cervical cancer;, Human papilloma virus;, lymph node metastasis;, treatment response;, biomarker;

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer accounts to about 25-30% of malignancy seen in females in South India. The age-standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer in South India is 22.1%. It is commonly associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV -16, HPV-18) infection and most cases are found to present with advanced staging of cancer. The increased number of cases is due to poor access for cervical cancer screening and barriers due to socio-economic status. The role of long noncoding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (lncRNA PVT1) in cervical cancer has not been explored in cervical cancer though it has been associated with other types of cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of lncRNA PVT and its association with HPV status, lymph node metastasis and response to therapy.

Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted for a duration of 12 months in radiation oncology outpatients. Paired cervical biopsies were taken from 80 newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients. HPV DNA and PVT1 expression was analysed using multiplex PCR and Rt-qPCR respectively. Statistical tests were used to analyse the correlation between lncRNA PVT-1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, HPV status, lymph node metastasis and response to therapy.

Results: Among 80 patients, 63 (78.75%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 17 (21.25%) had adenocarcinoma; 62.5% presented at FIGO stage IIIB. HPV infection was detected in 64 cases (80%), and lymph node metastasis in 16 (20%). All tumours measured ≥4 cm. After 12 weeks of treatment, 63 patients (78.75%) achieved complete response. Elevated PVT1 expression correlated with tumour size, HPV status, lymph node metastasis, and partial treatment response. ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.525 for lymph node metastasis and 0.718 for predicting partial response.

Conclusion: PVT1 expression demonstrates a significant association with major clinicopathological factors in cervical cancer. However, it does not possess predictive value for lymph node metastasis. Given its discriminatory capacity, PVT1 may serve as a biomarker for therapeutic response and could thus be valuable for stratifying treatment outcomes.