RESUMO
PURPOSE: Infection of the external urogenital system with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in the development of genital cancer. We evaluated the prevalence of HPV types 6/11, 16 and 18 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the localization of HPV DNA by in situ hybridization. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 22 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were analyzed. We used the PCR technique to evaluate type specific DNA sequences of unique E6 to E7 transforming regions of HPV. Also, we investigated the localization of HPV DNA by in situ hybridization in PCR positive cases. RESULTS: Overall, by PCR technique the detection rate for HPV DNA were 50% (11 of 22 cases). HPV DNA type 16 was detected in all positive specimen and type 6/11 in 5 cases, whereas type 18 could not be detected. All of HPV DNA type 6/11 positive specimens were also HPV DNA type 16 positive. Using in situ hybridization HPV DNA type 16 was detected in 2 (18.2%) from 11 specimens in which HPV DNA had already been detected by PCR, and HPV DNA type 16 was localized in the nuclei of scattered carcinoma cells. But, HPV DNA type 6/11 were not detected by in situ hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that HPV DNA type 16 is the type most commonly associated with penile carcinoma. But the result of high detection rate for HPV DNA type 6/11 seems to require further investigations.