Human papillomavirus and p53 protein immunoreactivity in condylomata acuminatum and squamous cell carcinoma of penis

Aim: To determine the immunoreactive pattern of human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen and p53 protein in condylomata acuminatum (CA) and squamous cell ca rcinoma (SCC) of penis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry for HPV and p53 were performed in 40 specimens of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues usin g a polyclonal (rabbit) antibody against HPV and a monoclonal (mouse) antib ody against human p53 protein. Twenty one cases of CA and nineteen cases of SCC were examined. Results: HPV antigen was detected in all 21 CA and 2 pe nile SCC. p53 protein overexpression was observed in 12 of 19 (63%) SCC in which G cases were strong positive. Five of 21 CA (24%) showed low-grade p5 3 protein overexpression. Conclusion: CA is related to HPV infection and so me cases show p53 protein low-grade overexpression. In contrast, p53 protei n overexpression is common in penile SCC, which is seldom related to HPV in fection.