Prospective study on cervical neoplasia IV. Presence of HPV antibodies

Sera collected in the course of a prospective study carried out in Prague i n 1975-1983 were assayed for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) ant ibodies. Women with cervical neoplasia proven by biopsy at enrollment posse ssed antibodies to peptides derived from E2, E4 and E7 proteins of HPV16 an d to virus-like particles (VLPs) of HPV16, -18 and -33 significantly more f requently than matched controls. Women without cervical neoplasia at enroll ment who developed the disease in the course of the study differed from mat ched controls by a higher prevalence of antibodies against VLPs of HPV16 an d -18 but not against early antigens of HPV16. In 19 of the latter subjects , paired serum specimens were tested, the first samples having been taken a t enrollment and the second at diagnosis. Development of the disease was as sociated with seroconversion from negativity to positivity to at least one HPV antigen in 11 (57.9%) women. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.