Lack of detection of human papillomavirus 18 in prostate carcinoma: immunohistochemistry analysis

ABSTRACT

Human papillomavirus [HPV] is the cause of the most common sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] of viral etiology worldwide. The association between HPV infection and prostatic carcinoma [Pca] is controversial issue. In this study the presence of HPV 6, 11 [low risk] and HPV 18 [high risk] was tested in prostate cancer of Saudi patients. A monoclonal antibody [NCL-HPV-4C4] specific for HPV types 6, 11, 18 [novocastra, United Kingdom] was used in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained from patients with Pca [n 32] at King Abdulaziz Hospital [Jeddah, Saudi Arabia]. Standard immunohistochemistry avidin-biotin peroxidase complex technique was used. The study was done in 2007. The age of patients ranged between 55 and 90 years. Gleason grade for the cases was as follows; score 6 [6 cases], score 7 [12 cases], score 8 [10 cases] and 9 [4 case]. None of the cases of Pca stained positively for HPV types 6, 11, 18. Normal, atrophic and hyperplastic epithelium showed also negative immunoreactivity. The results of the current study indicated that HPVs type 6, 11, 18 are not detected by immunohistochemistry in Pca and is less likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Pca. It lends support to the evidences against the association between Pca and HPV 18 infection. More evaluation of the different HPV types should be performed in prostate cancer specimens