Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women with Cervical Cancer but without Cytological Abnormalities in the Preceding Years

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) have been recognized as the aetiological. agent of squamous carcinoma of the cervix (Munoz et al., 1992). Existing data suggest that HPV type affects the malignant potentiel of HPV associated lesions, low risk being associated with types 6 and 11 and high risk with types 16 and 18 (Lorincz et al, 1992). During a retrospective study to determine the prevalence of cytological. abnormalities before cancer, Pap smears were collected from women with cervical. cancer from the area of Aberdeen in the period 1974–1985. Some carcinoma of the cervix were observed in women who were diagnosed cytologically negative over the period of 1–10 years before cancer diagnosis. The absence of cytological. abnormalities could indicate the absence of HPV infection. Thus, we have investigated the role of HPV in such carcinomas. The polymerase chain reaction was used to search for the presence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 in cervical. tissue from these carcinomas and in situPCR was utilised to localise viral. DNA in the cervical. tissues.