Detection of human papillomavirus and adenovirus in benign and malignant lesions of the larynx.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) and adenovirus (AdV) infections in the oncogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and of laryngeal dysplasia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with planned data collection.


METHODS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology G. Ferreri and Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology-Section of Virology, Sapienza University of Rome.


METHODS
Biopsy samples were taken from 68 patients with benign and malignant lesions of the larynx. All tissue samples were analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction with two groups of primers for HPV and with a pair of primers for AdV.


RESULTS
All cases of carcinomas and dysplasia as well as all control cases were negative for both viruses. Four of the five cases of laryngeal papillomas were positive for only HPV, confirming the role of these viral types in the origin of papillomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of viral genomes in laryngeal carcinomas as in the other cases studied suggests the existence of other factors that play a more important role than viral infection in the carcinogenesis of these lesions.
Gallo
Andrea
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, G. Ferreri, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. andrea.gallo@uniroma.it
Degener
Anna Marta
AM
Pagliuca
Giulio
G
Pierangeli
Alessandra
A
Bizzoni
Federica
F
Greco
Antonio
A
de Vincentiis
Marco
M
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000821:virology; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000821:virology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012384:Rome; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology