Gardasil is marketed as a cervical cancer vaccine, but it is actually a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Why is this done?

Question

A.  The virus multiplies more rapidly in cancerous cells.
B.  Cancer cells are particularly susceptible to viral infection.
C.  Genital warts is a sign of cancer.
D.  HPV in the cervical epithelial cells may cause the cells to become cancerous.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about the link between viruses and cancer?

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

D.  HPV in the cervical epithelial cells may cause the cells to become cancerous.

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses the link between viruses and cancer.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
 
Gather Content
· What do you already know about the link between viruses and cancer?
        o Some viruses can cause cancer. Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer, and some strains of human papillomaviruses can infect the cervix and cause cervical carcinoma.
        o Sometimes viral proteins interfere with the regulation of oncogene expression. Or, the integration of a viral genome into a host chromosome may disrupt a gene required  to control  the cell cycle. Finally, some viruses actually encode oncogenes.  

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o HPV, the human papilloma virus, can cause cervical cancer.
        o By getting a vaccine that prevents infection by HPV, the patient can avoid this risk factor and lower their risk of cervical cancer.
 
Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to take what you already know and apply it to this unfamiliar situation.
        o Did you recognize that the HPV vaccine can lower the risk of cancer because HPV infection can cause cervical cancer?