Human Papillomavirus-Induced Chromosomal Instability and Aneuploidy in Squamous Cell Cancers.

Chromosomal instability (CIN) and aneuploidy are hallmarks of cancer. CIN is defined as a continuous rate of chromosome missegregation events over the course of multiple cell divisions. CIN causes aneuploidy, a state of abnormal chromosome content differing from a multiple of the haploid. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-known cause of squamous cancers of the oropharynx, cervix, and anus. The HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes have well-known roles in carcinogenesis, but additional genomic events, such as CIN and aneuploidy, are often required for tumor formation. HPV+ squamous cancers have an increased frequency of specific types of CIN, including polar chromosomes. CIN leads to chromosome gains and losses (aneuploidies) specific to HPV+ cancers, which are distinct from HPV- cancers. HPV-specific CIN and aneuploidy may have implications for prognosis and therapeutic response and may provide insight into novel therapeutic vulnerabilities. Here, we review HPV-specific types of CIN and patterns of aneuploidy in squamous cancers, as well as how this impacts patient prognosis and treatment.

Transcription Properties of Beta-HPV8 and HPV38 Genomes in Human Keratinocytes.

Persistent infections with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) from the genus alpha are established risk factors for the development of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. In contrast, HPV from the genus beta have been implicated in the development of cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSCC) in epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) patients and organ transplant recipients. Keratinocytes are the in vivo target cells for HPV, but keratinocyte models to investigate the replication and oncogenic activities of beta-HPV genomes have not been established. A recent study revealed, that beta-HPV49 immortalizes normal human keratinocytes (NHK) only, when the viral E8^E2 repressor (E8-) is inactivated (T. M. Rehm, E. Straub, T. Iftner, and F. Stubenrauch, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 119:e2118930119, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2118930119). We now demonstrate that beta-HPV8 and HPV38 wild-type or E8- genomes are unable to immortalize NHK. Nevertheless, HPV8 and HPV38 express E6 and E7 oncogenes and other transcripts in transfected NHK. Inactivation of the conserved E1 and E2 replication genes reduces viral transcription, whereas E8- genomes display enhanced viral transcription, suggesting that beta-HPV genomes replicate in NHK. Furthermore, growth of HPV8- or HPV38-transfected NHK in organotypic cultures, which are routinely used to analyze the productive replication cycle of HR-HPV, induces transcripts encoding the L1 capsid gene, suggesting that the productive cycle is initiated. In addition, transcription patterns in HPV8 organotypic cultures and in an HPV8-positive lesion from an EV patient show similarities. Taken together, these data indicate that NHK are a suitable system to analyze beta-HPV8 and HPV38 replication. IMPORTANCE High-risk HPV, from the genus alpha, can cause anogenital or oropharyngeal malignancies. The oncogenic properties of high-risk HPV are important for their differentiation-dependent replication in human keratinocytes, the natural target cell for HPV. HPV from the genus beta have been implicated in the development of cutaneous squamous cell cancer in epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) patients and organ transplant recipients. Currently, the replication cycle of beta-HPV has not been studied in human keratinocytes. We now provide evidence that beta-HPV8 and 38 are transcriptionally active in human keratinocytes. Inactivation of the viral E8^E2 repressor protein greatly increases genome replication and transcription of the E6 and E7 oncogenes, but surprisingly, this does not result in immortalization of keratinocytes. Differentiation of HPV8- or HPV38-transfected keratinocytes in organotypic cultures induces transcripts encoding the L1 capsid gene, suggesting that productive replication is initiated. This indicates that human keratinocytes are suited as a model to investigate beta-HPV replication.

Activation of DNA damage repair factors in HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers.

The mechanisms regulating viral pathogenesis of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OPSCC) are not well understood. In the cervix, activation of DNA damage repair pathways is critical for viral replication but little is known about their role in OPSCC. APOBEC factors have been shown to be increased in OPSCC but the significance of this is unclear. We therefore examined activation of DNA damage and APOBEC factors in HPV-induced OPSCC. Our studies show significantly increased levels of pCHK1, FANCD2, BRCA1, RAD51, pSMC1 and γH2AX foci in HPV-positive samples as compared to HPV-negative while the ATM effector kinase, pCHK2, was not increased. Similar differences were observed when the levels of proteins were examined in OPSCC cell lines. In contrast, the levels of APOBEC3B and 3A were found to be similar in both HPV-positive and -negative OPSCC. Our studies suggest members of ATR pathway and FANCD2 may be important in HPV-induced OPSCC.

A Meta-Analysis on Human Papillomavirus Type Distribution among Women with Cervical Neoplasia in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

INTRODUCTION: To date, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has not been integrated into the national vaccination program of most countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), except for the United Arab Emirates and Libya. The knowledge of HPV genotype distribution in cervical neoplasia is valuable to predict the impact of current HPV vaccines on cancer prevention and can help the health policymakers to select the most appropriate vaccine types in their countries. METHODS: Hence, this meta-analysis recapitulates all available data on HPV prevalence and genotypes in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I-III or low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL, respectively), and invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in EMRO countries. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 5,990 cases of cervical precancer and cancer. The overall HPV prevalence was 85.4, 71.3, 59.2, and 34.8% in women with ICC, CIN II-III or HSIL, CIN I or LSIL, and ASCUS, respectively. HPV 16 was the most common genotype followed by HPV 18, representing 58 and 16.5% in ICC cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that the introduction of current HPV vaccines into national vaccination programs and the establishment of comprehensive screening programs in EMRO countries is beneficial by preventing 74.5% of cervical neoplasia.

Characterization of an integrated, endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus-like (MMTV) betaretrovirus genome in a black Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

Retroviruses (family Retroviridae) are important agents of humans and animals. This study reports the detection and complete genome characterization of a novel endogenous retrovirus from the black Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) with a squamous cell skin tumor. The proviral genome, tentatively named black Syrian hamster retrovirus (BSHRV/2013/HUN, MK304634), was 8784 nucleotide in length with typical full-length betaretrovirus genome organization of 5'LTR-gag-pro-pol-env-3'LTR and with a characteristic mouse mammary tumor virus-like (MMTV) betaretrovirus dUTPase domain but without a sag gene. The BSHRV gag (534aa), pro/pol (~1099aa) and env (672aa) proteins had 56%/63%/50% aa identity to the corresponding proteins of MMTV (AF228552). The proviral DNA is detectable in tumor as well as in tumor-free cells by conventional PCR and qPCR but only visible in the tumor cells by in situ hybridization. Low level retroviral RNA expression was found only in the DNase-treated RNA tumor samples using RT/nested PCR. BSHRV/2013/HUN-like betaretrovirus DNA was also identified from a faecal and tissue samples from 1 of the further 3 tested individuals by nested-PCR and qPCR. Further research is needed to investigate the distribution, activity and etiological role of this novel MMTV-like betaretrovirus species in hamster.

Human papillomavirus oncoproteins induce a reorganization of epithelial-associated γδ T cells promoting tumor formation.

It has been shown that γδ T cells protect against the formation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in several models. However, the role of γδ T cells in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated uterine cervical SCC, the third-leading cause of death by cancer in women, is unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of γδ T cells in a transgenic mouse model of carcinogenesis induced by HPV16 oncoproteins. Surprisingly, γδ T cells promoted the development of HPV16 oncoprotein-induced lesions. HPV16 oncoproteins induced a decrease in epidermal Skint1 expression and the associated antitumor Vγ5+ γδ T cells, which were replaced by γδ T-cell subsets (mainly Vγ6+ γδlowCCR2+CCR6-) actively producing IL-17A. Consistent with a proangiogenic role, γδ T cells promoted the formation of blood vessels in the dermis underlying the HPV-induced lesions. In human cervical biopsies, IL-17A+ γδ T cells could only be observed at the cancer stage (SCC), where HPV oncoproteins are highly expressed, supporting the clinical relevance of our observations in mice. Overall, our results suggest that HPV16 oncoproteins induce a reorganization of the local epithelial-associated γδ T-cell subpopulations, thereby promoting angiogenesis and cancer development.

Human papillomavirus molecular biology.

Human papillomaviruses are small DNA viruses with a tropism for squamous epithelia. A unique aspect of human papillomavirus molecular biology involves dependence on the differentiation status of the host epithelial cell to complete the viral lifecycle. A small group of these viruses are the etiologic agents of several types of human cancers, including oral and anogenital tract carcinomas. This review focuses on the basic molecular biology of human papillomaviruses.

Human papillomavirus detection in fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph node metastasis of head and neck squamous cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: Currently, testing on HPV in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is performed on histological material. However, in a certain percentage of the cases who present with lymph node metastases no primary tumor can be identified and only fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is available for analysis. OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study was to assess HPV status on FNAC and to validate it using histological material of the same patients. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with cervical metastasis from OPSCC or cancer of an unknown primary tumor (CUP), diagnosed between 2007 and 2012 were included. In 6 of the 47 patients, no primary tumor could be identified. HPV detection and genotyping was performed in both FNAC slides scrapings and formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) histological material from the same patients, using the HPV SPF10-LiPA25 assay. HPV PCR analysis on FFPE material was considered the reference standard for HPV status of each case. RESULTS: Compared with HPV negative cases (n=22), significantly more HPV positive cases (n=25) presented initially with cervical metastasis (27% vs 56% respectively; p=0·047). The HPV PCR assay on FNAC material showed a high sensitivity (96%; 95% CI 86.6-97.4) and specificity (100%; 95% CI 85.1-96.7) using the reference standard of HPV PCR analysis on FFPE material of the same patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, testing on HPV in FNAC of cervical lymph node metastases of SCC is validated. It provides a valuable alternative for testing of HPV on histological material from patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma or cancer of an unknown primary tumor.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Among Women With High-Grade Cervical Lesions in Beijing, China.

The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) genotypes among Han women with high-grade cervical lesions in Beijing, China.Cervical cell specimens from patients with histopathologically confirmed cervical lesions at 7 hospitals in Beijing were examined with a validated HPV kit for 13 hr-HPV genotypes during the study period. The patients were divided into a low-grade cervical lesions group (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1, CIN1) and a high-grade cervical lesions group (CIN2+, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, CIN2; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3, CIN3; squamous cervical cancer, SCC; and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, ACC) based on the histopathology results.A total of 2817 eligible patients were enrolled, including 610 cases identified as CIN1 and 2207 as CIN2+. The hr-HPV positive rates in the CIN1 and CIN2+ groups were 78.2% (477/610) and 93.3% (2060/2207), respectively. The most frequently detected genotypes were HPV16, 58, 52 and18 in the CIN1 group and HPV16, 58, 33, and 52 in the CIN2+ group, in descending order of prevalence. In addition, the prevalence of HPV18 among the patients with ACC was 28.6% (14/49), significantly >7.2% (54/752) prevalence among the SCC patients (P < 0.001). Additionally, significantly more women in the CIN2+ group had multiple infections compared with those in the CIN1 group (38.1% and 24.9%, respectively; P < 0.001). However, as the cervical lesion grade increased, the prevalence of multiple hr-HPV infections gradually deceased to 44.2% in the CIN2 patients, 36.7% in the CIN3 patients, and 35.3% in the cervical cancer (CC) patients, which included SCC and ACC patients. In cases of multiple hr-HPV infections in the CIN2+ group, double infections accounted for ∼76.6%, and HPV16+58, HPV16+52, and HPV16+18 were the most common combinations, in descending order. The most frequent combination for triple infections was HPV16+58+31, with a rate of 4.2%. The highest positive rate occurred in the ≤24 year-old group for all types of cervical lesions.The prevalence of HPV genotypes in the targeted population with high-grade cervical lesions differs from that of other countries. This information could be helpful for the prevention of CC in Beijing, China.

Claudin-1 as a Biomarker of Cervical Cytology and Histology.

Several immunochemistry tests are used for triaging human papilloma virus (HPV) and cytology positive cases in cervical cancer screening and as an adjunct test to diagnose cervical cancer. Claudin-1 (CLDN1) protein is a major component of the tight junction, shown to have altered expression in cervical cancer. In this study, value of CLDN1 was analysed as a screening and triage immunochemistry test compared to cytology and HPV testing. A population of 352 women attending colposcopic referral visits resulting in cervical conisation and a second population of 150 women attending routine gynaecological visits with negative cervical cytology were enrolled in a multi-centre clinical study in Hungary. Cytology and HPV (Genoid Full Spectrum HPVAmplification and Detection System) testing were carried out along with immunocytochemistry for CLDN1, and as a reference, using CINtec p16 Cytology Kit. Three different evaluation protocols were used which assessed immunostaining characteristics with or without cytological readings. High correlation observable between p16INK4a and CLDN1 established CLDN1 as a competing marker in cervical cancer. Concordance of CLDN1 immunostaining of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 and above (CIN2+) positives was 84.0 % (73.8­89.3); concordance of CIN2+ negatives was 69.0 % (59.6­75.8). In conclusion, CLDN1 has similar diagnostic potential as p16INK4a, our results established it as a histological and cytological biomarker with the potential to improve the clinical performance of cervical cytology and histology.

Utility of Human Papillomavirus Capsid Protein L1 and p16 in the Assessment and Accurate Classification of Anal Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: Morphologic evaluation of anal dysplasia remains problematic, especially in cases with limited biopsy samples or obscuring inflammation. Studies in cervical neoplasia have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid production is highest in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) and progressively decreases in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). The combined utility of HPV L1 and p16 expression in assessing anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) has never been analyzed and forms the basis of this study. METHODS: In total, 145 anal lesions were reviewed and immunohistochemically stained for HPV L1 and p16. p16 expression was recorded as negative, patchy/focal, or diffuse. For analytical purposes, condylomas were evaluated separately from rest of the LSILs. RESULTS: There were 34 (23%) condylomas, 64 (44%) LSILs, and 47 (32%) HSILs. HPV L1 was significantly associated with condylomas (68%) and LSILs (52%) compared with HSILs (9%; P < .0001). Diffuse p16 staining was present only in HSILs (P < .0001), whereas a patchy/focal p16 staining pattern was observed in both LSILs and condylomas. CONCLUSIONS: HPV L1 and diffuse p16 expression is mutually exclusive in most anal SILs and helps separate LSIL and HSIL cases. Application of both HPV L1 and p16 can not only facilitate accurate grading but also contribute to risk assessment in anal neoplasia.

Accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in pre- and post-menopausal Thai women with minor cervical cytological abnormalities.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pre- and post-menopausal women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred women (150 pre-menopausal and 50 post-menopausal) with ASC- US and LSIL cytology who attended the colposcopy clinic, Thammasat University Hospital, between March 2013 and August 2014 were included. All women underwent VIA testing and colposcopy by gynecologic oncologists. Diagnostic values of VIA testing including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting high-grade CIN were determined using the histopathology obtained from colposcopic-directed biopsy as a gold standard. RESULTS: VIA testing was positive in 54/150 (36%) pre-menopausal women and 5/50 (10%) post-menopausal women. Out of 54 pre-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, 15 (27.8%) had high-grade CIN and 39 (72.2%) had either CIN 1 or insignificant pathology. Ten (10.4%), 43 (44.8%) and 43 (44.8%) out of the remaining 96 pre-menopausal women with negative VIA testing had high- grade CIN, CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, respectively. Out of 5 post-menopausal women with positive VIA testing, there were 4 (80%) women with high-grade CIN, and 1 (20%) women with insignificant pathology. Out of 45 VIA-negative post-menopausal women, 42 (93.3%) women had CIN 1 and insignificant pathology, and 3 (6.7%) had high-grade CIN. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the VIA testing were 59.4%, 76.2%, 32.2% and 90.8%, respectively (60%, 68.8%, 27.8% and 89.6% in pre-menopausal women and 57.1%, 97.7%, 80% and 93.3% in post-menopausal women). CONCLUSIONS: VIA testing may be used as a screening tool for detecting high-grade CIN in women with minor cervical cytological abnormalities in a low-resource setting in order to lower the rate of colposcopy referral.

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for the diagnosis and classification of squamous lesions of the anogenital region.

Distinguishing anogenital squamous intraepithelial lesions from benign conditions and mimics may be problematic. Immunohistochemistry for surrogate markers of HPV infection, such as Ki-67, p16, and ProEx™ C, may aid the diagnosis in equivocal cases. The main diagnostic pitfall in the diagnosis of LSIL is the occurrence of "pseudokoilocytes" in benign squamous mucosa, which may lead to overdiagnosis. When interpreted correctly, Ki-67 is a sensitive and specific marker for dysplasia in mature squamous epithelium and is therefore useful for confirmation of LSIL and condyloma. A Ki-67 positive result is defined as the presence of a cluster of at least two strongly stained epithelial nuclei in the upper two-thirds of the epithelial thickness. With such a definition, there is almost complete concordance between consensus diagnosis of LSIL/condyloma confirmed by detection of HPV DNA and positive Ki-67. A related proliferation marker, ProEx™ C, has similar staining patterns and utility for the diagnosis of low grade dysplasia. The differential diagnosis of HSIL includes atypical immature squamous metaplasia and atrophy. A marker with high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of HSIL in cervical, vulvar, and anal mucosa is p16. A 2-tier scoring system is used to evaluate p16 staining. No staining or a discontinuous, patchy nuclear and cytoplasmic staining pattern is considered as a negative result. A positive result is defined as diffuse and strong staining of cells of the basal and parabasal layers of the squamous epithelium, with or without staining of superficial cell layers. New markers that are undergoing evaluation for their clinical utility include stathmin-1, phosphorylated S6, and SOX2. Confirmation of the diagnosis of dysplasia by HPV detection in tissue sections using HPV capsid protein immunohistochemistry, HPV DNA or HPV RNA in situ hybridization offers lower sensitivity as compared to immunohistochemistry for surrogate markers and therefore has more limited utility in this context.

Human papillomavirus and the incidence of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer using cervical conization as a surrogate marker: a nationwide population-based Danish cohort study.

PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus' (HPV's) role in skin cancer is controversial. To examine whether an individual is prone to develop a chronic oncogenic infection, we conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study of the risk of skin cancer after another HPV-related neoplasia-that is, cervical high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma-using cervical conization as a surrogate marker. METHODS: Using Danish registries, we identified all women who underwent conization from 1978 to 2011 (n = 87,164) and followed them until first-time skin cancer diagnosis, death, emigration, or 31 December 2011, whichever came first. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma (MM) according to national incidence rates. RESULTS: The 1-year absolute risks were 0.0012%, 0.045%, and 0.029% for SCC, BCC, and MM, respectively. Conization was clearly associated with increased incidence of SCC (SIR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.13-1.65), but not MM (SIR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.91-1.11). BCC risk was slightly increased (SIR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.13). CONCLUSIONS: The association between conization and cutaneous SCC provides evidence for conization as a marker of underlying general susceptibility to oncogenic HPV.

Unique recurrence patterns of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after excision of the squamocolumnar junction.

Recent studies have identified a putative cell of origin for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer at the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) and suggest that these cells may not regenerate after excision (loop electrosurgical excision procedure). Our study addressed the impact of SCJ excision on the temporal dynamics, histologic and viral (human papillomavirus, HPV) characteristics of recurrent CIN. One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients treated by excision and attending follow-up visits were enrolled. We compared recurrent and initial CIN with attention to excision margins, timing of recurrence, CIN grade, HPV types, p16 immunophenotype and SCJ immunophenotype. During the follow-up period (up to 4 years), 16 (12.2%) recurrences were identified. Four (25%) were identified at the first follow-up visit, closely resembled the initial CIN 2/3 in grade and HPV type and were typically SCJ marker positive [SCJ(+)], suggesting nonexcised (residual) disease. Twelve (75%) manifested after the first postoperative visit and all were in the ectocervix or in mature metaplastic epithelium. All of the 12 delayed recurrences were classified as CIN 1 and were SCJ (-). In total, 9 out of 11 SCJ (-) recurrences (82%) followed regressed spontaneously. Taken together, these results show that new lesions developing from any HPV infection are delayed and occur within the ectocervix or metaplastic epithelium. This markedly lower risk of CIN 2/3 after successful SCJ excision suggests that the removal of the SCJ could be a critical variable in reducing the risk of subsequent CIN 2/3 and cervical cancer.

CCNA1 promoter methylation: a potential marker for grading Papanicolaou smear cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions.

BACKGROUND: From our previous study, we established that cyclin A1 (CCNA1) promoter methylation is strongly correlated with multistep progression of HPV-associated cervical cancer, suggesting potential use as a diagnostic maker of disease. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of CCNA1 promoter methylation in residual cervical cells isolated from liquid-based cytology that underwent hrHPV DNA screening for cervical cancer, and then to evaluate this marker for diagnostic accuracy using parameters like sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratio. METHODS: In this retrospective study, histopathology was used as the gold standard method with specimens separated into the following groups: negative (n=31), low- grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL, n=34) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+, n=32). The hrHPV was detected by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) and CCNA1 promoter methylation was examined by CCNA1 duplex methylation specific PCR. RESULTS: The results showed the frequencies of CCNA1 promoter methylation were 0%, 5.88% and 83.33%, while the percentages of hrHPV were 66.67%, 82.35% and 100% in the negative, LSIL and HSIL+ groups, respectively. Although hrHPV infection showed high frequency in all three groups, it could not differentiate between the different groups and grades of precancerous lesions. In contrast, CCNA1 promoter methylation clearly distinguished between negative/LSIL and HSIL+, with high levels of all statistic parameters. CONCLUSION: CCNA1 promoter methylation is a potential marker for distinguishing between histologic negative/LSIL and HSIL+using cervical cytology samples.

Implication of HLA-G 3' untranslated region polymorphisms in human papillomavirus infection.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is involved in cervical lesion development. It interferes with host immune response and modifies the expression of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a nonclassical HLA-I antigen with immune-inhibitory functions. We analyzed the frequencies of two HLA-G 3' untranslated region polymorphisms (14 bp ins/del, +3142C>G), involved in HLA-G modulation, in 33 condyloma acuminatum, 14 low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 100 invasive cervical cancer (ICC) HPV infected patients. We showed the involvement of HLA-G polymorphisms in HPV infection and lesion development, and suggested that 14 bp del allele promotes high-risk HPV infection, with del/C haplotype associated with ICC development. On the basis of these evidences, HLA-G polymorphisms could represent a risk factor in HPV positive subjects.

Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL-H) is a unique category of cytologic abnormality associated with distinctive HPV and histopathologic CIN 2+ detection rates.

OBJECTIVES: To examine data correlating high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) results in patients with both low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H) cytology findings (LSIL-H) with follow-up histopathology. METHODS: A total of 494 LSIL-H ThinPrep (Hologic, Marlborough, MA) cases with hrHPV testing were identified. Histopathologic follow-up was available in 347 patients. RESULTS: Among 347 patients with follow-up histopathology after LSIL-H cytology and hrHPV testing, 90.5% tested hrHPV positive. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 was diagnosed in 29.4% and CIN 1 in 53.6%. CIN 2/3 was diagnosed in significantly more patients with hrHPV-positive LSIL-H than following hrHPV-negative LSIL-H results. Compared with published institutional data, LSIL-H had significantly lower hrHPV and histopathologic CIN 2/3+ rates (90.5% and 29.4%, with no cervical cancers) than high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (95.7% and 70.5%, with 2.4% cervical cancers) but higher rates than LSIL (80.2% and 12.9%) or atypical squamous cells/cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H) (54.3% and 17.2%). Whereas CIN 2/3 detection rates were similar in HPV-positive LSIL-H and HPV-positive ASC-H, CIN 2/3 findings were more likely with HPV-negative LSIL-H than with HPV-negative ASC-H. CONCLUSIONS: LSIL-H is a unique category of cytologic abnormality associated with distinctive hrHPV and CIN 2/3+ diagnostic rates.

PET/CT imaging and human papilloma virus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer: evolving clinical imaging paradigm.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) represents an emerging disease that differs from HPV-negative OPSCC in natural history and prognosis. Contrast-enhanced PET/CT is essential to accurately stage the primary site when there are smaller tumors; neck nodal metastases, which tend to have a more cystic component; and distant metastases that manifest in unusual sites (disseminating phenotype) such as bones and other solid organs, including brain. Metastases tend to appear later in the disease course during follow-up for HPV-positive OPSCC than for HPV-negative OPSCC. Because HPV-positive OPSCC patients have a better clinical outcome, there is a need for treatment deintensification to spare the patient from treatment-related toxicities. (18)F-FDG PET/CT would play a role in monitoring patients with deintensified treatments to ensure that no adverse outcome is introduced. The better prognosis and outcome of HPV-positive OPSCC patients would warrant imaging follow-up that is less intense but continues longer because of the manifestation of distant metastases later in the disease course and at unusual sites. All these clinical paradigms facilitate a definite role for PET/CT imaging in the management of HPV-positive OPSCC.

Cervical cytology with a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H): a follow-up study with corresponding histology and significance of predicting dysplasia by human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical significance of "atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion" ASC-H by comparing the original cytologic findings with follow-up tissue biopsies, and its association with high-risk HPV. METHODS: A total of 235,518 ThinPrep Pap tests were performed at our institution from January 2008 through December 2010, but only 727 (0.3%) of these cases were diagnosed as ASC-H. RESULTS: Of the 309 cases diagnosed as ASC-H on cytology for which follow-up histologic material was available, 120 (38.8%) were definitively diagnosed as high-grade dysplasia (CIN 2/3) and 75 (24.2%) showed features of low-grade dysplasia (CIN 1). We observed that the incidence of dysplasia in patients less than 30 years of age was 73.4% (113/154) and 48.3% (14/29) in patients greater than 49 years of age (p = 0.001). There were 71 cases for which high-risk HPV DNA testing was conducted. HPV DNA was found to be positive in 41 of the dysplastic cases (CIN 1 = 18 cases and CIN 2/3 = 23) and negative in six of the dysplastic cases (CIN1 = 2 and CIN2/3 = 4). CONCLUSION: We conclude that cases diagnosed as ASC-H should be followed-up with caution as they are strongly associated with dysplasia of any grade (63.1%), especially high-grade dysplasia (38.8%). Reflex HPV DNA testing is an important predictor of dysplasia with a positive predictive value of 87.2% in our study.