The role of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in ovarian epithelium (eithe
r normal or neoplastic) remains controversial. We have investigated by
PCR the presence of HPV DNA in fresh tissue from ovarian neoplasms an
d in primary cell cultures established from either normal, benign, or
malignant ovarian surface epithelia. None of the fresh samples and pri
mary ovarian cultures contained HPV DNA sequences.