Clinical significance of serum anti-human papillomavirus 16 and 18 antibodies in cervical neoplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the clinical significance of serum anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) antibodies and high-risk cervical HPV DNA in cervical neoplasia.


METHODS
The study population comprised patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 (n=64), CIN 2 and 3 (n=241), cervical cancer (n=170), and normal control participants (n=975). Cervical HPV DNA tests were performed through nucleic acid hybridization assay tests, and serum anti-HPV 16 and 18 antibodies were measured by competitive immunoassay. The associations of HPV DNA and anti-HPV antibodies were evaluated with demographic characteristics and compared according to the levels of disease severity. Anti-HPV antibodies were also investigated with clinicopathologic parameters, including survival data.


RESULTS
Among various demographic characteristics, factors involving sexual behavior had a higher tendency of HPV DNA positivity and HPV seropositivity. Human papillomavirus DNA mean titer and positivity were both increased in patients with cervical neoplasia compared with those with normal control participants, but there was no statistical difference among types of cervical neoplasia. Serum anti-HPV 16 antibodies were also able to differentiate cervical neoplasia from a normal control participant and furthermore distinguished CIN 1 from CIN 2 and 3 (odd ratio 2.87 [1.43-5.78], P=.002). In cervical cancer, HPV 16 seropositivity was associated with prolonged disease-free survival according to the univariable analysis (hazard ratio=0.12 [0.01-0.94], P=.044).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum anti-HPV 16 antibodies can distinguish cervical neoplasia from a normal control and has the advantage of identifying high-grade CIN. Moreover, in cervical cancer, HPV 16 seropositivity may be associated with a more favorable prognosis.


METHODS
II.
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korean Cancer Center Hospital, Korean Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, and Inha University Hospital, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, and the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Doo Byung
DB
Chay
Hanbyoul
H
Cho
Bo Wook
BW
Kim
Eun Suk
ES
Kang
Eunseop
E
Song
Jae-Hoon
JH
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000276:immunology*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral