title: Human papillomavirus DNA and p16 gene in squamous cell lung carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, and to examine the protein expression and genomic status of p16 and their correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty cases of surgically removed primary lung SCC were analyzed. HPV detection was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of L1 region and E6/E7 region of high-risk viral genotype. p16 protein and gene analysis were carried out by immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPV DNA was found in two out of 50 cases (4%, p>0.05). In five cases, p16 protein expression was positive. The data showed that in 45/50 cases (90%, p<0.05) HPV DNA and p16 were both negative, in 2/50 cases (4%) both were positive, and in 3/50 (6%) cases, HPV DNA was negative and p16 positive. FISH analysis for p16 gene showed aneusomia of chromosome 9 with or without loss of p16 gene in all cases (100%, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that in pulmonary SCC, there is no association between the presence of HPV DNA and the expression of p16 protein. Furthermore, the loss of the p16 gene and the instability of chromosome 9 were frequently found in HPV DNA-negative cases.
authors: Second Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors: Luisa Benerini
authors: LB
authors: Gatta
authors: Piera
authors: P
authors: Balzarini
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Tironi
authors: Angiola
authors: A
authors: Berenzi
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Benetti
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Angiero
authors: Piergiovanni
authors: P
authors: Grigolato
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Dessy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral