Human papillomavirus DNA in genital tumours

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) types 16 and 18 have been identified in two different human cervical carcinomas. The viral DNAs were molecularly cloned and used as probes to screen a large number of genital tumours by Southern blot analysis. HPV 16 or HPV 18 sequences were found in a high percentage of cervical carcinomas but only in a small number of condylomata acuminata or flat condylomas. The majority of the latter lesions, however, contained HPV 6 or HPV 11 sequences, respectively, which, in contrast, were detected only rarely in carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinomas. A similar distribution of the different papillomaviruses was observed when cell scrapings taken from the cervix were tested by in situ hybridization.