Human Papillomavirus (HPV), DNA Aberrations and Cell Cycle Progression in Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the genital tract are sexually transmitted and prevalent worldwide. In this study, the role of HPV in 72 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma was investigated. Patients and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with in situ hybridization was used to identify HPV-DNA in the patients' biopsies. The HPV typing was conducted by pyrosequencing. Cell cycle and DNA content were analysed by cytometry. Results: Ninety percent of the carcinoma biopsies carried high-risk oncogenic HPV in their malignant cells. Eighty-one percent of these demonstrated a single infection with HPV16, 18 or 33 and 19% were double infected with HPV16 and HPV18. Accumulations of viral genes were seen at the necrotic area of the tumours. The HPV genome in the tumour cell influenced significantly the host cell cycle progression, but not DNA aberrations. Within these patients, HPV status in the malignant cells was not found to be associated with patient survival time. Conclusion: High-risk oncogenic HPV may play an important role in the initiation of host cell proliferation in anal squamous cell carcinoma. However, infection with HPV may not have any direct influence itself on the clinical outcome of these patients considering the treatments currently available.