Use of HVP-16 E6 and E7-gene derived peptides to diagnose HPV-16-associated invasive cervical cancer

A method of screening for HPV-16 associated invasive cervical carcinoma comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting at least one peptide spanning at least one epitope on HPV-16 E7 and E6 polypeptides, said peptide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of
• HPV-16 E7 aa6-35 characterized by the amino acid sequence
• PTLHEYMLDLQPETTDLYCYEQLNDSSEEE (SEQ ID NO:
• 1),
• HPV-16 E7 aa29-52 characterized by the amino acid sequence
• NDSSEEEDEIDGPAGQAEPDRAHYN (SEQ ID NO:
• 2),
• HPV-16 E6 aa1-23 characterized by the amino acid sequence
• MHQKRTAMFQDPQERPRKLPQLC (SEQ ID NO:
• 3), and
• HPV-16 E6 aa8-37 characterized by the amino acid sequence
• MFQDPQERPRKLPQLCTELQTTIHDIILEC (SEQ ID NO:
• 4)
• or a peptide derived therefrom, with a serum specimen from an individual;
• and
• b) detecting the reaction product formed by the contacting step with a labeled second antibody.