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Development of the Uterine Cervix and Its Implications for the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer

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Pathology of the Cervix

Part of the book series: Essentials of Diagnostic Gynecological Pathology ((EDGP,volume 3))

Abstract

Normal development of the uterine cervix has been widely studied and the origin of both the columnar and squamous epithelia, as well as the molecular basis of their differentiation, has been established. The process of early carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix has also been described extensively, in particular with respect to the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, questions remain about the progenitor cell(s) that play(s) a role in normal (embryonic and fetal) development, as well as in the oncogenic processes that take place in the transformation zone of the uterine cervix. This chapter describes the development of the human lower female reproductive tract, in particular the cervical squamocolumnar junction, and its implications for the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Douwe Remerij and Kjeld Bolland for performing the immunohistochemical staining of SIL and AIS lesions, Monique Ummelen for the fluorescence in situ hybridization, and Dr. J Cleutjens for the assistance with scanning of microscope slides enabling comparative immunohistochemical evaluation of histological areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 616 (UNS50, box 17), Maastricht, 6200, MD, The Netherlands

    Anton H. N. Hopman PhD & Frans C. S. Ramaekers PhD

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  1. Anton H. N. Hopman PhD
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  2. Frans C. S. Ramaekers PhD
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Correspondence to Anton H. N. Hopman PhD .

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  1. University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    C. Simon Herrington

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Hopman, A.H.N., Ramaekers, F.C.S. (2017). Development of the Uterine Cervix and Its Implications for the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer. In: Herrington, C. (eds) Pathology of the Cervix. Essentials of Diagnostic Gynecological Pathology, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51257-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51257-0_1

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