Low-risk human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 associated with carcinomas of the genital and upper aero-digestive tract.
BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus (HPVs) types 6 and 11, are frequently found in non-malignant anogenital condylomas and laryngeal papillomas. However, in an ongoing epidemiological study in Argentina in which 163 anogenital and aero-respiratory cancer biopsies were analyzed, several cases infected with low-risk HPVs could be detected.


METHODS
Tumor samples were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization, using HPVs 6, 11, 16, 18, 30, 31, 33 and 35 as probes, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with type-specific primers and probes.


RESULTS
Four invasive carcinomas containing HPV 6 or 11 could be detected (2.4%) by Southern blot technique. HPV 6 DNA was found in a penile carcinoma, a groin carcinoma, and in a tonsillar carcinoma. One cervical carcinoma harbored HPV 11 DNA. Using HPVs 6, 11, 16, 18 and 33 anticontamination primers and probes in PCR, no additional high-risk HPV types could be detected in these four cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
This report shows the presence of low-risk HPVs (HPV 6 and 11) associated to malignant tumors in a frequency higher than usually observed. The data raise questions about which are the circumstances which may favor low-risk HPV related oncogenesis.
Turazza
E
E
Virology Laboratory, Children's Hospital Ricardo Gutierrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lapeña
A
A
Sprovieri
O
O
Torres
C P
CP
Gurucharri
C
C
Maciel
A
A
Lema
B
B
Grinstein
S
S
Kahn
T
T
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010212:Papilloma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
D004279:DNA, Viral