Stage related detection rate of human papillomavirus DNA in invasive cervical cancer

Summary

Histologically proved cervical carcinoma tissue samples from 50 patients were analysed for the presence of human papillomavirus types 6, II, 16 and 18 deoxyribonucleic acid sequences. P'² labelled papillomavirus test-DNAs were analysed by Southern blot hybridisation. Viral types 16 and 18 have high prevalences in cervical carcinoma tissues and they may play a role in cervical carcinogenesis. Increasing detection rates of oncogenic viral types were found in more advanced stages. Results suggest that human papillomaviruses are involved in the progression of the disease as well as in its initiation.