HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION IN ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMAS - A STUDY OF 121 LESIONS USING MULTIPLE BROAD-SPECTRUM POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTIONS AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

To elucidate the putative role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the etiology of esophageal cancer, 121 formalin-fixed, paraffin-em bedded specimens originating from a non-high-incidence area for this c arcinoma, from Slovenia, were screened for:IPV Infection using eight d ifferent polymerase chain reactions (PCR). Three different HPV consens us primer sets and four primer sets specific for HPV types 6, 16, and 18 Failed to detect HPV DNA sequences in any of the tumor samples. Fra gments of human beta-globin gene that served as internal controls were successfully amplified from 120 of 121 specimens. Our study confirms the opinion that most esophageal cancers originating from non-high-inc idence geographic areas of this cancer are not associated with HPV inf ection. According to the studies reviewed, it is likely that HPV infec tion plays a much more significant role in esophageal carcinogenesis i n those ;ureas of the world with a high incidence of ESCC. Copyright ( C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.