Demonstration of papillomavirus structural antigen in human urinary bladder neoplasia

Clear cells showing characteristic features of koilocytotic atypia were found in 41 (82%) of 50 paraffin sections of urinary bladder tumour. Papillomavirus common structural antigen was detected in seven (14%) of the samples using an avidin-biotin peroxidase staining technique. The results suggest a role for the human papillomavirus in the aetiology of urinary bladder neoplasia.