Human papillomavirus detection in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with cervical adenocarcinoma (ADC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ADSC) is well documented. The relationship between HPV and the histopathology of ADC and ADSC is not clearly understood. This study proposed to evaluate: 1. the prevalence of HPV infection in cervical ADC and ADSC in Taiwan; 2. any correlation of HPV and histologic subtypes, grading and tumor staging of ADC and ADSC; 3. the possible role of HPV in cervical ADC and ADSC.


METHODS
HPV detection was carried out using a non-isotopic in situ hybridization (ISH) technique on paraffin sections of 33 cervical ADC and 12 ADSC. An FITC-labelled probe of wide spectrum HPV was used for screening, and probes of HPV 6/11, 16, 18, 31, 33 were used for typing.


RESULTS
Of the 33 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma, 15 (45%) were HPV positive; of these, 10 (30%) were HPV 18, and 4 (12%) were HPV 16. In ADSC, 7 (58%) cases contained HPV DNA, of which HPV 18 was detected in 2 (17%), and type 16 in 3 (25%). Unidentified HPV types were found in one and in two cases of ADC and ADSC, respectively. There were no significant correlations between HPV status and histologic subtypes, grading and tumor staging. All the HPV-positive ADC contained punctate nuclear HPV signals. In ADSC, the signal pattern was heterogeneous. HPV DNA was integrated in all but one viral positive cases.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that ADC and ADSC of cervix in Taiwan were associated with HPV infection. HPV 18 was predominant in ADC similar to the reports from most other regions. There was no correlation between HPV and histopathologic findings of ADC and ADSC. The punctate signals suggestive of viral DNA integration were found in all but one HPV positive cases. The result supports the hypothesis that HPV may play an important role in pathogenesis of cervical ADC and ADSC.
Tseng
H H
HH
Department of Pathology, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Wang
J S
JS
Kan
Y Y
YY
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral