More than 7000 pairs of female twins from around Australia are needed to help explore the link between cervical cancer and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Study coordinator, Professor Suzanne Garland of the University of Melbourne’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Women’s Hospital, said about 80 per cent of women are exposed at some point in their lives to the HPV virus, but very little is known about how that initial infection can progress to cancer.

“For some women, the virus can lead to cell changes in the cervix which can lead to cervical cancer,” she said.

The national study will compare the pap smears of pairs of identical and non-identical female twins between the ages of 25 and 69 to find why the common virus causes cancer in some women but not others.

“Twins offer a novel opportunity to investigate genetic versus environmental factors,” said Professor John Hopper, Director of the Australian Twin Registry (ATR) from the University of Melbourne’s School of Population Health.

The National Health and Medical Research Council has recently announced further funding for the ATR to aid the research.

For information call:

Emma O'Neill, Media Officer, University of Melbourne 0432758734