Physical status of the E2 human papilloma virus 16 viral gene in cervical preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions

Background: Integration of human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 DNA is considered an important genetic change in cervical lesion progression towards ICC. Th e viral E2 gene is often disrupted by this process, releasing suppression o f viral E6/E7 oncogenes, a key factor for oncogenic progression. Objectives : To evaluate the physical status of HPV 16 E2 gene in cervical preneoplast ic and neoplastic lesions and its relation with lesion severity. Study desi gn: A sensitive PCR approach for the detection of an intact E2 HPV 16 gene in infected epithelial cells from the cervix with low grade squamous intrae pithelial lesion (LGSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL ) and invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) diagnosis was applied. The correlat ion between gene disruption and lesion stage was examined. Results: Sixty-t wo LGSIL, 39 HGSIL and 24 ICC samples were analyzed. Fifty-seven LGSIL [92% ], 13 HGSIL [33%] and 4 ICC [17%] showed results compatible with an intact E2 gene, while 5 LGSIL [8%], 26 HGSIL [67%] and 20 ICC [83%] samples gave n o signal. Conclusions: HPV 16 E2 gene disruption showed a positive correlat ion with cervical lesion progression, particularly from LGSIL to HGSIL. Alt hough additional genetic events are very likely to be needed for HGSIL to I CC progression, the E2 gene disruption is a putative early marker to consid er in the prognostic analysis of HPV 16 chronically infected women. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.