ABSTRACT
To evaluate whether EBV-DNA can be used as a diagnostic and follow-up parameter for nasopharyngeal tumors in a non-endemic population. The study was carried out in a university hospital. A retrospective study was conducted on 40 paraffin samples of histological preparations. EB-DNA was detected by real-time PCR technique. A prospective study was also conducted on a group of 30 patients who underwent nasopharyngeal biopsy for suspected nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by comparing EBV-DNA concentrations between the histological specimen and the serum. Quantification of genomic copies of EBV-DNA in serum and detection of anti-EBV antibodies was performed. In both groups the presence of high viral load of EBV-DNA was found in nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinomas, in three cases of lymphepitomyoma and in 4 out of 6 cases of non-differentiated non-carcinoma lymph node metastases. squamous keratinizing cells. In all cases of NPC, an antibody pattern typical of reactivations (IgGVCA+, IgG-EA+, IgG-EBNA+) and IgA-EA-D, frequently positive in cases of NPC, has been highlighted. A good correlation between the high EBV-DNA charges and the histological diagnosis was highlighted. Our study also found that the assessment of viral EBV load can also be considered in the prognostic evaluation and in the follow-up of patients with NPC.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Although human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been studied extensively in women, data on male infection are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate persistence of HPV infection at multiple genital sites in men and to define potential associations with socio-behavioural characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Penile, urethral and seminal specimens were tested by the INNO-LiPA HPV system (Innogenetics) and a PCR assay. Persistence was defined as the detection of same HPV type at ≥ 2 consecutive visits. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were applied to estimate the likelihood of persistence. RESULTS: A total of 50 men (median age: 33 years) were followed for a median of 14.7 months. Altogether, 49%, 36%, 26% and 11% of baseline HPV-positive men had 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month persistent infection with any HPV type, respectively. The 6-, 12- and 18- month persistence was more common for oncogenic HPV infections; 24-month persistence was similar. The median duration of persistence was 21.7 months for any HPV. The median duration of persistence for any HPV type was significantly longer in the penile sample (22.5 months, 95% CI: 18.3-26.7) than the semen sample (15.3 months, 95% CI: 14.5-16.1). CONCLUSIONS: Over a third of type-specific HPV infections in men remained persistent over a 24-month period. The median duration of HPV infection was longer in penile samples compared to seminal samples. As being increasing the attention of HPV vaccination as a potential preventive approach also for men, it is imperative to obtain additional insight on natural history of HPV infection in men, particularly as far as incidence and duration are concerned.
