State of human papilloma virus DNA in cervical carcinomas

Cervical carcinoma is etiologically associated with the human papilloma vir us (HPV), HPV 16 and HPV 18 being the most common. Viral DNA is thought to persist mostly in the episomal form in early tumor development, and in the integrated form in carcinomas. This assumption was checked with a new metho d that discriminated between RNAs transcribed from episomal and integrated HPV DNAs. Both forms were detected in carcinomas of Russian patients regard less of the disease stage. The data were verified by two other methods. RNA with sequences of the HPV transforming gene E7 proved to be transcribed fr om either DNA form. The results suggest that HPV integration is not crucial for carcinoma progression.