Papillomavirus infection of the lower genital tract: Detection of viral DNA in gynecological swabs

Abstract

A total of 311 smears from the lower genital tract were examined by the filter in situ hybridization method to identify human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Of these 311 smears, 229 came from clinically and cytologically negative patients and served as a control group. In this group HPV-DNA was detected in 5 cases (2.2%). Of 82 cytologically positive cases (25 confirmed by histology) 56 (68%) contained HPV-DNA. A high prevalence of HPV 6/11 and absence of HPV 16/18 was found in cases with cytological signs of permissive HPV infection. In mild and moderate dysplasia all viruses occurred at almost the same frequency. In severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ HPV 16/18 was found 5 times more frequently than HPV 6/11. HPV 16/18 was identified in all 4 invasive cancer cases. Cervical irrigation of colposcopically suspect areas was performed in 15 cytologically and HPV-DNA positive cases using the hydrodynamic filtration method. In 12 cases only the cells obtained from the colposcopically positive areas contained HPV-DNA. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the filter in situ hybridization was shown by: comparing the results obtained by HPV-DNA hybridization using Southern blot analysis of tumor biopsies; analysing the correlation of cytologic diagnosis and presence of HPV-DNA in follow-up examinations, and diagnosing presence or absence of HPV-DNA in parallel filters from the same patients.

Does human papillomavirus cause cervical cancer? The state of the epidemiological evidence

“…studies in which the histology or cytology of the lesion was specified and DNA aUnless otherwise noted, figures are for type 16 only; bType 18 only; cTypes 16 and 18 combined; dTwo control groups were used, one for women with inflammatory cervical lesions, the other of women with normal cervical cytology; eTwo control groups were used, one from a venereal disease clinic and the other from a family planning clinic. 'Durst et al, 1983;2Boshart et al, 1984;3De Villiers et al, 1986;4Wagner et al, 1984; 'Schneider et al, 1985;6Schneider et al, 1987;7Scholl et al, 1985;8McCance et al, 1985;9Meanwell et al, 1987;I'Toon et al, 1986; ' 'Wickenden et al, 1985;'2Cox et al, 1986;'3Lorincz et al, 1986;'4Fukushima et al, 1985;"Crum et al, 1986;'6Prakash et al, 1985;17Reeves et al, 1987; '8Reeves (pers. comm).…”

“…The table gives the number of subjects tested in each cervical lesion group (invasive carcinoma, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, referred to as CIN, or normal), and the percentage positive for various types of HPV in each group. In five of these studies, HPV prevalence rates are given separately for the three degrees of CIN (Lorincz et al, 1986;McCance et al, 1985;Schneider et al, 1985;Schneider et al, 1987;Wagner et al, 1984). The initial impression is that within each study women with cervical neoplasia have HPV DNA of types 16 and 18 detectable in their cervical cells more frequently than women with normal cervices, that the prevalence rates increase with the severity of the lesion, and that there is a considerable variation in prevalence within each lesion group, although most of the studies are based on small numbers and different hybridisation techniques have been used.…”

Detection of human papillomavirus-6 in primary carcinoma of the urethra in men

“…They have a different oncogenic potential. Thus, cervical cells haboring HPV-16 or HPV-18 are subjected to a higher risk of becoming malignant than those containing HPV-6 oder HPV-1 1 .23- 25 In spite of the general experience that HPV-6 is found in benign lesions, there have been some reports on the presence of HPV-6 DNA in malignant tumors. Zachow et recorded HPV-6 DNA hybridizing under stnngent conditions to DNA of one case each of a carcinoma of the penis, a penile bowenoid papulosis, and a vulval carcinoma in situ.…”

Relative enhancer activity and transforming potential of authentic human papillomavirus type 6 genomes from benign and malignant lesions

“…Human papillomavirus types are found predominantly in cervical carcinomas (Boshart et al, 1984;Dfirst et al, 1983;Fuchs et al, 1988;McCance et al, 1985;Schneider et al, 1985). HPV-6 and HPV-11, on the contrary, are found predominantly in benign condylomata or laryngeal papillomas (Gissmann et al, 1982(Gissmann et al, , 1983.…”