A SURVEY OF HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS-16 ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH EPITHELIAL CANCERS

Human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV 16, is linked to the deve lopment of cervical cancer. However, the role of HPV 16 in a number of extra-cervical epithelial tumours is controversial, To assess exposur e to HPV 16 in patients with different cancers, we conducted a large s erosurvey of 905 patients with 21 types of tumours and measured IgG to HPV 16 virus-like particles (VLPs) using a well characterized enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Patients with cervical cancer were considered 'positive controls', as about half were expected to be spe cifically HPV 16-related. A non-cancer study group consisting of 48 pa tients with endocrine disorders leg diabetes) was also tested. HPV 16 antibody prevalence was highest in patients with cancers of the cervix (52% +/- 7%), vulva (27% +/- 9%), vagina (27% +/- 13%) and penis (63% +/- 16%), Seroprevalence was much lower in the non-cancer group (4% /- 3%) and all other cancer patients: uterus (9% +/- 4%); ovary (4% +/ - 3%); testis (5% +/- 4%); prostate (6% +/- 4%); squamous carcinoma (6 % +/- 3%) and adenocarcinoma (4% +/- 3%) of the lung; rectum (2% +/- 2 %); pancreas (8% +/- 4%); colon (2% +/- 2%); stomach (0%); oesophagus (8% +/- 4%); buccal cavity (12% +/- 5%); breast (10% +/- 4%); non-mela nomatous (9% +/- 6%) and melanomatous (6% +/- 3%) skin tumours; bladde r (8% +/- 4%); and kidney (2% +/- 2%), The results confirm the strong relation of HPV with several lower anogenital tract tumours, but, at l east in this population, fail to identify additional epithelial tumour s associated with high seroprevalence of HPV 16 VLP antibodies, (C) 19 98 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.