HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS DNA AND TP53 MUTATIONS IN LUNG CANCERS FROM BUTCHERS

To investigate whether the high frequency of human papillomavirus infe ction in butchers may be linked to their higher than average incidence of lung cancer, we have examined lung cancers from 40 butchers and 26 controls for the presence of DNA from both HPV type 7, which is found almost uniquely in hand warts from butchers and fishermen, and for th ose HPV types associated with laryngeal and genital cancers. No HPV 7, and only a low frequency of HPV DNA was found, suggesting that HPV in fection does not make an important contribution to the elevated levels of lung cancer in meat handlers. In addition, the frequency of p53 mu tation was shown to be slightly lower than previously reported in lung cancers.