Characterization of Human Papillomavirus Types in Cervical Epithelial Neoplasia by in Situ Hybridization

ABSTRACT

An in situ DNA hybridization technique was applied to detect human papillomavirus(HPV) DNA, HPV types 6/11 and 16/18, on paraffin sections of 36 cervical condylomatous lesions associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma. 1) HPV DNA sequences were identified in 14 of 36 cervical condylomatous lesions(39.0%); HPV 6/11 in 7 cases(19.0%) and HPV 16/18 in 7 cases(19.0%). 2) With the use of biotinylated HPV 6/11 DNA probes, 5 of 5 condyloma acuminata(100%), 1 of 5 flat condylomata(20%), and 1 of 7 mild dysplasias(14.3%) were positive. 3) With the use of HPV 16/18 DNA probes, 1 of 7 mild dysplasias(14.3%), 2 of 5 moderate dysplasias(40%), 2 of 4 severe dysplasias(50%), and 2 of 5 invasive squamous cell carcinomas(40%) were positive. 4) The positive stainings to HPV DNA probes were primarily detected in koilocytotic nuclei of the superficial epithelium. No positive signals were found in the normal, dysplastic or carcinoma cells. 5) The numbers positively stained cells were decreased with increasing severity of the lesions from benign condylomas to invasive squamous cell carcinomas. In conclusion, HPV types 6/11 were more commonly identified in benign condylomatous and low grade intraepithelial lesions than high grade lesions. However, HPV types 16/18 were identified in high grade CIN and invasive squamous cell carcinomas. The present results while supporting the concept on HPV 16/18 as the high risk of HPV types in cerivical carcinogenesis also emphasize the applicability of the situ DNA hybridization as a tool in analysis of the specific HPV DNA sequences in routine biopsies of these lesions.