High prevalence of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma and matched normal esophageal mucosa: assessment by polymerase chain reaction.
BACKGROUND
Studies using DNA technology have reported the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in esophageal carcinomas, suggesting that it could play a role in the pathogenesis of this tumor. In the present study, in addition to DNA from neoplasms, normal mucosa was screened for viral DNA, assuming that this would increase HPV detection substantially.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with esophageal carcinoma and 10 control subjects were studied. In 8 of the patients, normal mucosa was also available. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using primers for the E6 region of HPV-16 and HPV-18. Koilocytosis, a commonly accepted histopathologic marker of viral infection, was studied, and results were correlated with PCR findings.


RESULTS
DNA from neoplastic lesions was positive for HPV-16 and HPV-18 in 8 of 16 (50%) and in 3 of 16 (18.8%), respectively. When tumor tissue and normal mucosa were available, PCR results were 3 of 8 (37.5%), 5 of 8 (62.5%), and 8 of 8 (100%) for HPV-16, in tumor, normal mucosa, and both. For HPV-18, results were 0 of 8 (0%), 5 of 8 (62.5%), and 5 of 8 (62.5%), respectively. In comparison with tumor samples, positivity in normal mucosa was increased for HPV-18 and for both viral genotypes (P = 0.01). No amplification was obtained in the control group. Koilocytosis was present in 33% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested a high prevalence of HPV in esophageal carcinoma. The detection rate is significantly higher in normal mucosa specimens, suggesting that infection probably antedates tumor development. Koilocytosis was substantially less sensitive than PCR.
Fidalgo
P O
PO
Unidade de Gastrenterologia and Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Lisboa, Portugal.
Cravo
M L
ML
Chaves
P P
PP
Leitão
C N
CN
Mira
F C
FC
D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral