Investigation of hpv type 16, 18, 31 and 33 in malign lesions of upper respiratory tract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of human papillomavirus (HPV), and to explain its role in malign lesions of the upper respiratory tract. Archived paraffin block specimens taken from 100 cases of upper respiratory tract carcinomas were analysed for the presence of human papillomavirus infection, using Polymerase Chain Reaction technique. A nested PCR assay was designed for the detection and typing of HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31 and 33 using L1 and E6 consensus primers and HPV type- specific primers. Twenty five samples which were found to have inadequate DNA were excluded from the study. HPV DNA was detected in 25 (33%) of the 75 malign lesions of upper respiratory tract. Of the 25 HPV DNA positive samples, HPV 16 DNA was detected in 11 (44 %), and HPV 18 DNA was detected in 8 (32 %). HPV genotyping revealed double HPV infection in one case. In conclusion, HPV appears to play an etiological role in many malign lesions of upper respiratory tract. The results of our study is consistent with a causative role of HPV 16 and 18 in the pathogenesis of malign lesions of upper respiratory tract. More detailed studies are necessary for elucidating the epidemiology of HPV infections in Turkey. Key Words: Human papillomavirus (HPV), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Malign Lesions of Upper Respiratory Tract