The relationship between human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections in relation to age of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections in relation to age of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
Thirty samples of human cervical adenocarcinoma tissue were collected from the surgical pathology archive at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 1996 to 2008. All samples were examined for EBV, HPV-16 and HPV-18 E6 DNA by conventional and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays.


RESULTS
HPV-16 DNA was detected in 10 cases (33.3%), HPV-18 DNA in 12 cases (40%), and EBV DNA in three cases (10%); there were negative findings in seven cases (23.3%). EBV combined with HPV-16 or HPV-18 was also detected in one case each. No link could be demonstrated between HPV and EBV in endocervical lesions. When 20 patients 45 years old were compared with 10 patients > 45 years old, HPV-18 E6 DNA was detected in 45% vs. 30% (9/20 vs. 3/10), HPV-16 E6 DNA in 40% vs. 20% (8/20 vs. 2/10), EBV DNA in 10% vs. 10% (2/20 vs. 1/10), and no virus DNA was detected in 10% vs. 50% (2/20 vs. 5/10). HPV and EBV were significantly more common in younger women (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
HPV-18 plays a major role in adenocarcinomas at any age. A high prevalence of HPV DNA is significantly associated with cervical adenocarcinoma, especially in younger women. The results do not support a role for EBV in cervical adenocarcinogenesis or any relationship between EBV and HPV infection in adenocarcinoma.
Lau
Hei-Yu
HY
Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Twu
Nae-Fang
NF
Chen
Paul Chih-Hsueh
PC
Lai
Chiung-Ru
CR
Juang
Chi-Mou
CM
Yen
Ming-Shyen
MS
Chao
Kuan-Chong
KC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology