Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
The gastric cardia is not a target for human papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis
Jill Koshiol1, Wen-Qiang Wei, Aimee R Kreimer
1Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Room 7070, Rockville, MD 20852-7248, USA. koshiolj@mail.nih.gov
Background:
Thousands of people in central Asia die every year from gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA). GCA arises in the transformation zone between the esophagus and the stomach, similar to cervical and oropharyngeal carcinoma, which arise in areas with transformation zone characteristics. The analogous biology of the gastric cardia to the cervix and oropharynx, where human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause cancer, raises the possibility that GCA could be a HPV-associated cancer. Given the availability of an effective HPV vaccine and its potential to prevent HPV-associated cancer, we decided to evaluate the prevalence of HPV DNA in GCA.
Methods:
We collected tumor tissue from 144 histopathologically confirmed GCA patients at Yaocun Commune Hospital (Linxian, China), with rigorous attention to prevent DNA contamination. We tested for the presence of HPV DNA in fresh-frozen tumor specimens using PCR with sensitive L1-, E6-, and E7-based primers.
Results:
DNA was adequate, as indicated by beta-globin positivity, in 108 cases. Of these, all (100%; 95% confidence interval, 97-100%) were negative for HPV DNA.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that HPV does not contribute to gastric cardia carcinogenesis in north central China.
Impact:
Because GCA does not seem to be a HPV-associated cancer, prophylactic HPV vaccination is unlikely to affect rates of GCA in China.
Related Concept Videos
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Peptic Ulcer
Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach
Within parietal cells, carbonic acid is first formed through the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. The dissociation of carbonic acid releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate...
Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
Gastritis-I: Introduction and Types
Acute gastritis presents as a sudden inflammation triggered by various stressors to the stomach lining, such as exposure to corrosive agents, local irritants like aspirin and other NSAIDs, alcohol consumption, radiation therapy, physical trauma, severe burns, sepsis,...
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
