POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR) IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) DNA IN VERRUCOUS CARCINOMA OF THE LARYNX

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in archival formalin-f ixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from verrucous carcinoma of th e larynx was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with con sensus primers and by in situ hybridization designed to detect HPV typ es 6/11, 16/18,31/33/35. HPV DNA was detected in 17 (85%) of 20 tissue samples by PCR; none of the 20 samples were positive for the seven ge notype types tested by in situ hybridization. PCR is a valuable tool t o detect HPV and therefore will significantly clarify the importance o f HPV in squamous mucosal disorders.