[Clinical significance of HPV infection for cervix cancer]

536 cervical biopsies with various benign and malignant epithelial changes were studied histologically and virologically with Southern Blot hybridization. In 51 cases of normal squamous epithelium HPV 16 DNA was found in four (8%) and HPV 6/11 DNA in one (2%). In 136 cases of benign acanthotic epithelium HPV 16 DNA was found in 14 (10%), HPV 6/11 DNA in six (4%), and HPV 18 DNA in two (2%). During a follow-up of four years none of these patients developed CIN. 339 further stemmed from epithelium with various degrees of CIN and squamous cell cancers. HPV 6/11 was found most often (12%) in CIN I, while in carcinomas it was found only in combination with HPV 16. In contrast, HPV 16 was found most often (43%) in invasive cancers and less often in CIN (12%). 22 CIN-I cases were available for follow-up; 18 showed regression and 4 persistency. From the 65 patients with CIN II 24 have regressed, 41 were treated by cone biopsy because of persistency. 20 of these cases harboured HPV 16/18 DNA and in two cases HPV 6/11 was found. 84 invasive cases were studied virologically. 43 patients underwent radical abdominal hysterectomy with complete pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The surgical specimens were processed in giant sections and studied morphometrically. HPV-16-positive tumours significantly more often spread to parametrial and pelvic lymph nodes then did HPV-negative tumours. In addition the pelvic lymph nodes of 40 invasive cases were studied virologically. HPV 16 DNA was not only found in lymph node metastases of HPV-16-positive tumours, but also in lymph nodes free of metastatic disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)