Low frequency of human papillomavirus infection in initial papillary bladder tumors.
The involvement of human papillomavirus (HPV) in bladder cancer remains controversial. We previously reported detection of L1-HPV DNA in 39% of bladder cancers of mixed grade and stage. To clarify the possible etiologic role of HPV we studied, using the same technique, a more homogeneous group of initial low-stage tumors. We investigated a total of 187 newly diagnosed superficial papillary bladder tumors for the presence of L1-HPV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction method and hybridization with specific probes for HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 33. HPV DNA was detected in 16 (8.5%) of the 187 specimens tested, although in a low copy number compared with SiHa cervical cancer cells used as control. HPV type 16 was observed in eight tumors while HPV type 6 and type 11 were each observed in three tumors. Two tumor specimens contained two types of HPV: one tumor hybridized with type 6 and 16 and the other with type 11 and 18. This low rate of HPV detection (8.5%) in initial tumors does not favor a prominent role for HPV in bladder carcinogenesis.
Simoneau
M
M
Centre de recherche en cancérologie de l'Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Canada.
LaRue
H
H
Fradet
Y
Y
D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*
D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral