Papilloma virus and c-erbB-2 expression in diseases of the mammary nipple

Purpose: The detection of low/intermediate/high risk genital groups of huma n papillomavirus (HPV) in correlation with a growth-factor receptor c-erbB- 2 in benign tumors of the mammary nipple. Materials and Methods: Ten nipple duct adenomas (NDAs) and twenty papillomas, all embedded in paraffin and t aken from the breast, were analyzed for HPV DNA of the low- and high/interm ediate-risk groups. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with HPV consensus prim ers (types 6/11/16/18/33) and dot-blot hybridization with type-specific pri mes were used for the detection of these HPV-DNA sequences. Indirect in sit u PCR (ISPCR) was also used in one case of an HPV-DNA-positive papilloma. I n addition, we examined c-erbB-2 oncogene expression in NDAs and central ca rcinomas of the mamma from an immunohistochemical perspective. Results: Usi ng PCR and dot-blot hybridization we could nor detect the gene sequences th at are specific for the low-and high/intermediate-risk groups in any of the ten NDAs. Regarding the 20 cases of papilloma, a positive result for HPV t ypes 6/11 was detected by indirect ISPCR; in one case in combination with a condyloma of the skin around the mammary nipple. The oncogene expression o f c-erbB-2 displayed a strong signal in the papilloma cells and in the NDAs of the breast. Conclusion: Our results showed that the HPV-DNA types of th e low- and high/intermediate-risk groups are without relevance for the path ogenesis of benign diseases of the nipple. It was, therefore, not possible to establish a correlation between the oncogene expression of c-erbB-2 and the HPV-DNA types.