Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in anogenital neoplasias

Abstract

The presence of papillomaviruses in epithelial-derived cancers from several animal species has led to the speculation that these viruses may also have a pathogenic role in the development of certain human carcinomas, particularly those associated with the anogenital tract. Recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA has been detected in epithelial-derived cancers, both cutaneous and metastatic, from patients exhibiting the rare, chronic flat wart disease, epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). Except for patients exhibiting this chronic wart syndrome, the association of HPV genomes with human epithelial cancers has not been demonstrated. In an attempt to delineate the association and possible involvement of papillomaviruses with human anogenital carcinomas, we have begun an analysis of these cancers for the presence of HPV-specific nucleotide sequences by using highly sensitive hybridization procedures capable of detecting distantly related papillomaviruses at low copy number. Here we demonstrate the presence of HPV DNA in several types of anogenital tumours: Bowenoid papulosis, carcinoma in situ, and verrucous carcinoma. These data indicate that HPV can be detected in several types of premalignant and malignant tumours, supporting the contention that this group of viruses may be involved in the development of certain types of human epithelial-derived cancers.

A papillomavirus DNA from a cervical carcinoma and its prevalence in cancer biopsy samples from different geographic regions.

“…This may reflect the prevalence of other papillomavirus types in these regions. Indeed, at least three additional types have been demonstrated within human genital cancer biopsy samples: HPV 6 in Buschke-L6wenstein tumors or verrucous carcinomas of vulva and penis (10,14), virus DNA probably identical with HPV 10 in 2 out of 31 cervical cancers and in 2 out of 10 vulval cancers (13), and HPV 11 DNA in a few cervical cancers (15). It is thus apparent that different types of papillomaviruses can be found in genital squamous cell carcinomas.…”

Synthesis and assembly of infectious bovine papillomavirus particles in vitro

“…Papillomaviruses (PVs) infect epithelial cells, and such infection may lead to neoplastic transformation Zachow et al, 1982;Lacey et al, 1986;Pater et al, 1988;zur Hausen, 1991). The molecular basis of PV-induced epithelial cell transformation is at least partially understood (Gissmann, 1992;Pater et al, 1988;Yang et al, 1985), but the mechanism of infection of epithelial cells by PV virions and the basis of host resistance to PV infection remain unknown.…”

The transforming function of bovine papillomavirus DNA.

“…Further analysis has indicated that the transformed cells contain several polyadenylylated viral RNA species (12,13). The bodies of these RNAs map within the 69% transforming fragment, they vary in size from [1][2][3][4][5] kb, their 3' termini map to a common site about 0.3 kb upstream from the BamHI site, and their 5' ends map towards the HindIII end.…”

“…Papillomaviruses, which are a subgroup of the papovavirus group (1), induce benign epithelial cell proliferations that undergo malignant conversion in certain clinical settings (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Molecular and genetic studies of papillomaviruses have been limited principally because of the lack of a cell culture system suitable for virus propagation.…”