Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: evaluation of the role of human papillomaviruses.
OBJECTIVE
The study evaluated the conflicting results of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of bladder carcinoma.


METHODS
We analyzed the frequency of HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 33 by using polymerase chain reaction on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens, from 75 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Fifteen samples of normal urothelium adjacent to TCC (10) or from normal bladder obtained at autopsy (5) served as negative controls.


RESULTS
HPV type 16 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in 2 (2.7%) of the 75 cases of TCC and in none of the normal urinary bladder cases. The 2 patients with HPV type 16 were immunosuppressed after undergoing renal and cardiac transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly suggest that HPVs play a minor role in the development of TCC of the bladder in the general population, although they can act as oncogenic agents in predisposed patients, such as those who are immunosuppressed.
Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
J C
JC
Noel
L
L
Thiry
A
A
Verhest
N
N
Deschepper
M O
MO
Peny
A A
AA
Sattar
C C
CC
Schulman
J
J
Haot
D001056:Apolipoproteins C / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D001056:Apolipoproteins C; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral