Detection of human papillomavirus in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been linked causally to some human cancers such as cervical carcinoma. To determine whether any additional type of human malignancy contained HPV DNA, we examined 16 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens by Southern blot technique and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One HCC contained HPV 16 DNA as demonstrated by both Southern blot and PCR. Two other HCC samples contained HPV 18-related nucleotide sequences by PCR but were negative by Southern blot of genomic DNA. HPV could have been carried via blood to the liver, thus indirectly supporting the presence of an HPV viremia. Our findings suggest that oncogenic HPV might constitute a cofactor acting synergistically with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the development of the HCC in these patients. Alternatively, the presence of HPV in the tumor tissue might be the result of an opportunistic infection.