title: Evaluation of the clinical significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) 53.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are classified according to their potential for the development of cervical neoplasia. However, the carcinogenicity of HPV types forms an evolving continuum based on the newly available data especially regarding the role of probable and possible high-risk HPV types (pHR-HPV). The objective of the present work was to evaluate clinical significance of the pHR-HPV53.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cohort study of potential aetiological association between infection with HPV53 and development of high-grade cervical cytology was performed. The study was conducted in two geographically remoted hospitals, in Belgium and Democratic Republic of Congo, as an attempt to collect data from regions with different geographical distribution of HPV genotypes. The samples were taken during routine gynaecological visit in outpatient clinics of both participating hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2283 liquid-Pap samples were taken from 1465 women at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium, and from 660 women at General Hospital and Ngaliema Hospital of Kinshasa, DRC. "HPV53-only"-pattern as evaluated by full HPV genotyping was found in samples from only 34 (1.6%) samples. The initial cytology represented next to non-dysplastic, undetermined and low-grade lesions also high-grade lesions (12%). For 26 (76.5%) from the 34 women presented with "HPV53-only"-pattern follow-up results were available showing no progression to malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support very low to lacking carcinogenic potential of HPV53. Recognising extreme rarity in cervical cancer next to high prevalence in general population of HPV53, further studies investigating progression to high-grade lesions are needed to elucidate the oncogenic potential of pHR-HPV53.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elizaveta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Padalko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ali-Risasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Renterghem
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bamelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Mey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yolande
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sturtewagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vastenavond
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: davy.vandenbroeck@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanden Broeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weyers
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Praet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065309:Atypical Squamous Cells of the Cervix / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058889:Molecular Typing; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D065310:Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Cervical cancer; HPV 53; Human papillomavirus; Possible high-risk type