HIV drug may help stop cervical cancer

From BBC.co.uk: The University of Manchester have conducted early laboratory tests which indicate that the antiviral drug lopinavir attacks the virus that causes cervical cancer -- HPV -- as well as HIV. The research team believes that the oral drug could be made into a cream which could be applied to the cervix.

Dr. Ian Hampson, who led the research, explained: "The drug works as a selective proteosome inhibitor. It allows cellular proteins that are detrimental to the virus to persist." He said that normally, HPV would remove these from the cell so it could flourish. He further explained, "At the moment, we can't really offer anything to women with HPV and low-grade cervical disease. We are talking about 200,000 women in the UK alone. This treatment, if it works, could provide an alternative."