title: Human papillomavirus, lichen sclerosus, and squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: detection and prognostic significance.
abstract: Detection of HPV-DNA in squamous vulvar carcinoma, its prognostic significance, and investigation of the presence of lichen sclerosus near HPV-DNA-positive vulvar carcinomas were the objectives of this study. In 60 samples of squamous vulvar cancer, we looked for HPV-DNA by means of PCR. The same samples were examined for the presence of lichen sclerosus. The possible prognostic significance of the presence of HPV-DNA and lichen sclerosus was studied. Nineteen (32%) of the samples were HPV-DNA positive using PCR. Patients with an HPV-positive tumor had a better prognosis than those with an HPV-negative tumor (P = 0.03). Lichen sclerosus was found in 19 tumor samples, of which 7 had detectable HPV-DNA. Only a minority of vulvar cancers contain HPV-DNA. In contrast to previous statements, near some of these HPV-positive cancers, lichen sclerosus can be found.
authors.affiliation: The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Gynecology, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ansink
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Krul
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: De Weger
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kleyne
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pijpers
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Tinteren
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: De Kraker
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Helmerhorst
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Heintz
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015335:Molecular Probes