Distribution of HPV Types in Cervical Cancer in Pakistan: Implications for Screening and Vaccination Programs

HPV plays a key role in the development of cervical cancer. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of HPV genotypes in patients with Squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) and Adenocarcinoma (ADC) at NORI cancer Hospital Pakistan, with the aim of improving screening and prevention strategies.

Cervical scrapings were collected from 129 diagnosed cervical cancer patients. HPV typing was performed using a real-time PCR assay and sequencing.

Among the patients, 73.6% (90/129) were HPV positive. Proportion of HPV positivity was observed within each group. The highest incidence of HPV was observed in the 50-60 years age group (80.9%), followed by the 40-to-50-year group (75.8%). The positivity rate declined in the 60-to-70-year-old (63.6%) and further in the 70-80 years (62.5%). Eight different HPV subtypes were identified, with HPV 16 being the most prevalent (80.0%), followed by HPV 18 (9.5%), HPV 45 in 2 (2.1%), HPV 31 in 1 (1.1%), HPV 35 in 1 (1.1%), HPV 59 in 1 (1.1%), HPV 66 in 1 (1.1%), and HPV 89 in 1 (1.15). Histologically, 89.2% of the cases were Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 10.8% were Adenocarcinomas. In SCC patients, HPV 16 was found in 80.9% of cases, while in Adenocarcinoma patients, HPV 16 was detected in 66.7% of cases.

The prevalence of high-risk HPV types, both vaccine and non-vaccine, targeted in Pakistan highlights the urgent need for widespread screening and vaccination programs. Tailored public health strategies are essential to effectively reduce cervical cancer rates and mortality.