Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus by auto-nested PCR

The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in surgical specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. One hundred and sixty‐five paraffin‐embedded specimens of esophageal carcinoma were analyzed through high‐sensitivity auto‐nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the consensus GP5+/GP6+ primer. Twenty‐six specimens of esophageal mucosa without malignant disease were also studied as a control group. Two different specific primer sets targeting the E6 region of the HPVs 16 and 18 were used for typing. Direct DNA sequence analysis was conducted to confirm positive PCR results. HPV DNA was detected in 26 esophageal carcinomas (15.75%), but in none of the benign esophageal specimens (P