Human papillomavirus in ocular malignant tumours: a study from a tertiary eye care centre in North India

The present study aims to detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in ocular malignant tumours, including retinoblastoma, eyelid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC), in the North Indian population.

Prospective observational non randomized study.

In this study, 142 prospective cases of ocular malignant tumours (retinoblastoma, SGC, and SCC) were included.

HPV was detected by multiplex PCR using PGMY09/11 primers in 142 patients with ocular malignancies. This was followed by genotyping using linear array (reverse hybridization).

Of the 142 tumours studied, 72 were retinoblastoma, 30 SGC, and 40 SCC. The HPV genome was detected in 2.8% (4 of 142) of cases by multiplex PCR; all positive cases (4 of 40) were SCC. Genotyping revealed that all positives belonged to the high-risk HPV16 genotype. HPV-positive SCC patients had better disease-free survival. Retinoblastoma and SGC cases were negative for HPV.

Low prevalence of HPV in ocular malignancies was observed in this study. The HPV genome was detected only in ocular squamous cell carcinoma cases and these patients were associated with better prognosis. HPV may not have a role in retinoblastoma and SGC in the North Indian population.