HPV 16 in multiple neoplastic lesions in women with CINIII

Paraffin embedded material of multiple primary cancers and other hyperplast ic tumours from fifteen patients were analyzed by PCR and in situ hybridiza tion for the presence of HPV DNA in the lesions. All patients had also high grade cervical intraepithelial dysplasia (CW III) and breast carcinomas an d were selected from a previous study enrolling 46 women with CIN III and b reast carcinomas. HPV 16 was detected by PCR in 8/15 patients (53%), with e leven HPV 16 positive tumours. HPV 16 was detected in two malignant melanom as, one basal cell carcinoma, one squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, one Bowen disease of the vulva, two high grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplas ias, one cancer corporis uteri, one bronchial carcinoma and two lymphomas. Three cases, two high grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and a squamou s cell carcinoma of the vulva, were also reported to be positive by in situ hybridization. 5/8 patients (63%) with HPV 16 positive second cancers had also HPV 16 positive breast carcinomas. All fifteen patients with second ca ncers after CW III had HPV 16 positive CIN III lesions; 53% of the patients had also a familial cancer history. We assume that HPV 16 may be involved in the development of different second cancers in women with HPV 16 positiv e CIN III.