HUMAN PAPILLOMA-VIRUS INFECTION AND KI-RAS ONCOGENE IN PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED SQUAMOUS CARCINOMAS OF THE CERVIX

42 paraffin-embedded squamous cervical carcinomas were screened for th e presence of human papilloma virus (HPV; 6b, 11, 16, 18) and for acti vation of the Ki-ras oncogene family by polymerase chain reaction. In 72% of cases we found one or more HPV types, but no mutations of the K i-ras gene (codon 12-1 and 61-1, 61-2 and 61-3) were found. We conclud e that mutations of the Ki-ras oncogene, at the positions analyzed, ar e not likely to be involved in the events leading to cervical carcinog enesis.