DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS DNA IN PRIMARY SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE MALE URETHRA

Objectives. The prevalence of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic ac id (DNA) in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the male urethra and co rresponding control tissue was studied. Methods. The technique of poly merase chain reaction DNA amplification was used to detect specific hu man papillomavirus DNA sequences in archival pathologic and control ti ssue. We analyzed 16 cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the m ale urethra and 22 specimens of normal male urethra stratified by loca tion within the urethra. Results. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of t he pendulous urethra was significantly associated with human papilloma virus type 16 DNA (6 of 6 cases), but the control tissue from the pend ulous urethra was not (0 of 12, P<0.001). Primary squamous cell carcin oma of the bulbous and posterior urethra was not associated with human papillomavirus infection. Conclusions. Infection of the male urethra with human papillomavirus type 16 may have a role in the pathogenesis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pendulous urethra, for which it has a strong predilection, vis-a-vis the bulbous and posterior ure thra.