[Relation between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer of uterine cervix]

HPV-DNA fragments were detected in biopsy specimens (29 cases of cancer of uterine cervix, 2 cervical dysplasia and 9 normal cervix) using DNA hybridization technique. It was demonstrated that 52% of biopsy specimens of the cancer of uterine cervix was positive for HPV 16 DNA probe, while 9% was positive for HPV 18 DNA probe. 11% of non-cancerous biopsy specimens had a positive result for HPV 16 DNA probe. It was also demonstrated that the positive rate of HPV 16 DNA was 75% in grossly cauliflower and nodular type tumors but only 25% in erosion type. It seems that the positive rate of HPV 16 DNA is correlated to gross appearance of the tumor. The positive rates of HPV 16 DNA were different in 6 provinces in China. It was 64% in Shanxi Province, a high incidence area but 36% in Sichuan Province, a low incidence area. These results suggest that the carcinogenesis of cancer of the uterine cervix, be related to HPV infection.