TY - JOUR
T1 - Viewing Native American Cervical Cancer Disparities through the Lens of the Vaginal Microbiome
T2 - A Pilot Study
AU - Łaniewski, Paweł
AU - Joe, Tawnjerae R.
AU - Jimenez, Nicole R.
AU - Eddie, Tristen L.
AU - Bordeaux, Skyler J.
AU - Quiroz, Verity
AU - Peace, Donna J.
AU - Cui, Haiyan
AU - Roe, Denise J.
AU - Caporaso, J. Gregory
AU - Lee, Naomi R.
AU - Herbst-Kralovetz, Melissa M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©2024 The Authors.
PY - 2024/11/1
Y1 - 2024/11/1
N2 - Vaginal dysbiosis is implicated in persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer. Yet, there is a paucity of data on the vaginal microbiome in Native American communities. Here, we aimed to elucidate the relationships between microbiome, HPV, sociodemographic, and behavioral risk factors to better understand an increased cervical cancer risk in Native American women. In this pilot study, we recruited 31 participants (16 Native American and 15 non-Native women) in Northern Arizona and examined vaginal microbiota composition, HPV status, and immune mediators. We also assessed individuals’ sociodemographic information and physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health. Overall, microbiota profiles were dominated by common Lactobacillus species (associated with vaginal health) or a mixture of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria. Only 44% of Native women exhibited Lactobacillus dominance, compared with 58% of nonNative women. Women with vaginal dysbiosis also had elevated vaginal pH and were more frequently infected with high-risk HPV. Furthermore, we observed associations of multiple people in a household, lower level of education, and high parity with vaginal dysbiosis and abundance of specific bacterial species. Finally, women with dysbiotic microbiota presented with elevated vaginal levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Altogether, these findings indicate an interplay between HPV, vaginal microbiota, and host defense, which may play a role in the cervical cancer disparity among Native American women. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the mechanistic role of vaginal microbiota in HPV persistence in the context of social determinants of health toward the long-term goal of reducing health disparities between non-Hispanic White and Native American populations.
AB - Vaginal dysbiosis is implicated in persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer. Yet, there is a paucity of data on the vaginal microbiome in Native American communities. Here, we aimed to elucidate the relationships between microbiome, HPV, sociodemographic, and behavioral risk factors to better understand an increased cervical cancer risk in Native American women. In this pilot study, we recruited 31 participants (16 Native American and 15 non-Native women) in Northern Arizona and examined vaginal microbiota composition, HPV status, and immune mediators. We also assessed individuals’ sociodemographic information and physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health. Overall, microbiota profiles were dominated by common Lactobacillus species (associated with vaginal health) or a mixture of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria. Only 44% of Native women exhibited Lactobacillus dominance, compared with 58% of nonNative women. Women with vaginal dysbiosis also had elevated vaginal pH and were more frequently infected with high-risk HPV. Furthermore, we observed associations of multiple people in a household, lower level of education, and high parity with vaginal dysbiosis and abundance of specific bacterial species. Finally, women with dysbiotic microbiota presented with elevated vaginal levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Altogether, these findings indicate an interplay between HPV, vaginal microbiota, and host defense, which may play a role in the cervical cancer disparity among Native American women. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the mechanistic role of vaginal microbiota in HPV persistence in the context of social determinants of health toward the long-term goal of reducing health disparities between non-Hispanic White and Native American populations.
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U2 - 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-24-0286
DO - 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-24-0286
M3 - Article
C2 - 39172513
AN - SCOPUS:85208516202
SN - 1940-6207
VL - 17
SP - 525
EP - 538
JO - Cancer Prevention Research
JF - Cancer Prevention Research
IS - 11
ER -