Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in prostate gland tissue by using the polymerase chain reaction amplification assay.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with specific benign and malignant lesions of the epithelial and mucosal surfaces. Of the sexually transmitted types, HPV type 16 (HPV 16) and HPV 18 are commonly associated with severe dysplasia and carcinoma of the uterine cervix. In men, genital HPV infections which have been studied are manifest as external lesions usually involving types other than 16 and 18. The nature of HPV 16 and 18 infections in men has not been explored. Since the most common neoplasias of the male genital tract involve the prostate gland, we assayed benign hyperplastic and cancerous prostate tumors for the presence of HPV DNA, using type-specific primers in polymerase chain reaction amplifications. Normal prostatic tissue obtained at autopsy was included in the survey. Amplified sequences specific for HPV 16 were found in 14 of 15 benign prostatic hyperplasias and in all of four carcinomas tested. In contrast, HPV 18 was identified in only three benign hyperplasias, which also contained HPV 16 DNA. Four of five normal prostates demonstrated no HPV infection; one contained HPV 16 sequences. The presence of these oncogenic HPV types in prostate tissues suggests a reservoir for sexual transmission; a potential role for the virus in the etiology of prostatic neoplasia remains to be demonstrated.