title: High-risk HPV is not associated with epithelial ovarian cancer in a Caucasian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been suspected to play a role in the carcinogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, results from previous studies are conflicting. In most of these studies, the number of tissue samples was small. The current study was therefore undertaken to examine the prevalence of high-risk HPV DNA in EOC in a large series of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-imbedded tumor tissue samples from 198 cases consecutively included in the Danish Pelvic Mass Study were analyzed. The material included 163 serous adenocarcinomas, 15 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 11 mucinous adenocarcinomas and nine clear-cell carcinomas. Genotyping for high-risk HPV DNA was performed by real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using an in-house TaqMan singleplex assay targeting the E6/E7 region of the HPV 16 and 18 genomes. Additionally, 20 random samples without HPV 16 and/or 18 infections were reanalyzed for HPV subtypes 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51 and 52.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quality criteria were fulfilled in 191 samples. HPV 18 DNA was detected in one sample only, while the rest tested negative. The subgroup analysis for seven additional high-risk HPV subtypes was also negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only one in 191 samples was positive for HPV DNA. We therefore conclude that high risk HPV is unlikely to be associated with EOC in a Caucasian population. Future studies should focus on other microorganisms as possible etiological factors in EOC carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kasper
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ingerslev
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Estrid
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hogdall
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Skovrider-Ruminski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark ; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tine Henrichsen
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schnack
authors.affiliation: Molecular Unit, Department of Pathology, Herlev University Hospital & Gynecologic clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mona Aarenstrup
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nedergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 København Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hogdall
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Blvd. 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blaakær
keywords: Human papillomavirus; Ovarian cancer; Viral carcinogenesis