Failure to detect human papillomavirus DNA in malignant epithelial neoplasms of conjunctiva by polymerase chain reaction.
To elucidate the putative role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the etiology of conjunctival tumors, 44 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of conjunctival tumors (24 patients with papillomas and 20 patients with dysplastic and/or malignant tumors) were screened for HPV infection using 4 different polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Of the 24 samples of papilloma, 14 (58%) displayed positive results by applying nested PCR using primer sets of HPV consensus L1 region. HPV type 6 or 11 was detected in 9 cases of papilloma by type-specific primer sets, but none of them were positive for HPV type 16 or 18. However, by using the highly sensitive PCR technique, we failed to demonstrate the HPV DNA of HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in any of the 20 malignant epithelial tumors of conjunctiva. We conclude that HPV-6 or HPV-11 is present in a substantial percentage of conjunctival papillomas, which is in accordance with findings of previously reported studies. In contrast, malignant conjunctival carcinomas are not associated with HPV infection; other pathogenic mechanisms, such as UV light, probably are more important in the cause of these malignant lesions.
Eng
Hock-Liew
HL
Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University and Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lin
Tsun-Mei
TM
Chen
Shiao-Yen
SY
Wu
Shing-Mian
SM
Chen
Wei-jen
WJ
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000821:virology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016610:Tissue Embedding; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral