title: Human papillomavirus not detected in esophageal adenocarcinoma tumor specimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated as playing a causal role in Barrett's esophagus, the metaplastic precursor to esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) and gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinomas (GEJACs). We evaluated the presence of HPV DNA in EACs and GEJACs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 241 histologically confirmed archived EAC and GEJAC tissue specimens from a population-based study in Australia. Samples were tested by PCR for DNA quality (β-globin) and for the presence of HPV DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DNA yield and quality was satisfactory in 97% (233/241; 201 EAC, 32 GEJAC). Each sample was tested three times for HPV DNA, but none of the 233 tumor specimens tested positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no evidence of HPV DNA in esophageal adenocarcinoma tumor cells. HPV is unlikely to cause EAC or GEJAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: Annika.Antonsson@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Lani
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000821:virology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Barrett’s esophagus; Esophageal adenocarcinoma; Gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma; HPV DNA; Human papillomavirus