Do human papillomaviruses have a role in the pathogenesis of bladder carcinoma?
OBJECTIVE
Since little is known of the associations between bladder carcinoma and human papillomaviruses (HPVs), data on the role of HPV in bladder carcinogenesis are controversial. We attempted to clarify whether HPVs are present in bladder carcinomas.


METHODS
We examined 36 specimens of bladder carcinoma for HPV positivity by the polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
HPV-16 deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in 1 specimen (3%) of a transitional cell carcinoma from a 37-year-old woman who had concomitant squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The cervical tumor, bladder tumor and para-aortic lymph node metastasis were all positive for the same type of HPV.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of this low rate of HPV detection (3%), HPVs are not likely to have a prominent role in carcinogenesis of the bladder.
Mvula
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saga Medical School, Japan.
Iwasaka
T
T
Iguchi
A
A
Nakamura
S
S
Masaki
Z
Z
Sugimori
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000821:virology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000821:virology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*