Study of viral integration of HPV-16 in young patients with LSIL
- G Gallo1,
- M Bibbo3,
- L Bagella1,
- A Zamparelli1,
- F Sanseverino4,
- M R Giovagnoli2,
- A Vecchione5,
- A Giordano1
- 1Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- 2Cytopathology, II School of Medicine “La Sapienza” University, 00100 Rome, Italy
- 3Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- 5II School of Medicine “La Sapienza” University, School of Specialisation of Oncology, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence to: Dr G Gallo, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, BioLife Science Bldg Suite 333, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA; gaia.gallo{at}spr-r.it
- Accepted 30 January 2003
Abstract
Aims: To investigate the physical status of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) as a means of determining the percentage of viral integration.
Methods: Ninety two LSIL/HPV positive Thin Prep™ samples were initially tested for the E6 gene by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the HPV-16 virus. To avoid false positive results, the specificity of the bands obtained from PCR was confirmed by Southern blot hybridisation with internal oligonucleotide probes. Next, a PCR screen for the E2 gene was performed to identify those samples in which the virus was integrated. Viral integration was detected in just over half of them.
Results: Twenty of the 92 samples were HPV-16 positive, as shown by PCR for the E6 gene. Southern blot analysis confirmed that 13 of these samples were positive for the viral E6 gene. Thus, viral integration was detected in just over a half of the samples positive for HPV-16.
Conclusions: These data show that HPV-16 integration occurs in a subset of LSILs. The measurement of HPV-16 integration would be a helpful complementary tool for cytological evaluation in primary cervical screening to identify those patients at risk of developing high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer.
- HPV, human papillomavirus
- HSIL, high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
- LSIL, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
- ORF, open reading frame
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- SCC, saline sodium citrate
- SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate
