Human papillomavirus and its clinical relevance in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Kurdish population in the west of Iran

Abstract

Background The aetiological role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was evaluated by assessment of the presence and status of HPV DNA in a Kurdish population in the west of Iran. Methods One hundred and three paraffin-embedded ESCC tissue samples, diagnosed between 2007–2013, were included in the study. DNA was extracted and then HPV presence and genotypes were determined by PCR and INNO-LiPA genotyping, respectively. Results HPV DNA was detected in 11/103 (10.7%) of ESCCs. HPV-18 and HPV-16 genotypes were determined in five and six samples, respectively. Co-infection of HPV-6 was only found with HPV-18 in two cases. There were no statistically significant distinctions between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases with regard to clinical and pathologic findings. Conclusion The present study indicates that, among a group of Kurdish people in two provinces in the west of Iran, as a low-risk ESCC area, HPV could be one of the risk factors, although in a small proportion of the patients.

Keywords:

• HPV
• oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
• ESCC
• Kurdish population

Acknowledgements

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran, financed this work. We thank Professor Suminori Akiba for substantial input. We also acknowledge the Department of Virology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences for providing a HPV positive control.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.