The demonstration of human papillomavirus 16 genomes in the nuclei of genital cancers using two different methods of in situ hybridization.

Biopsy specimens of 16 invasive genital cancers (two vulval carcinomas, two carcinomas of the vagina, and 12 cervix carcinomas) were examined for the presence and distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by in situ hybridization with 3H-labeled and biotinylated DNA probes of HPV 6, HPV 11, and HPV 16. None of the tumors reacted with HPV 6 or HPV 11. Using in situ hybridization with 3H-labeled DNA probes nine of the 16 cancers gave positive results with HPV 16. Only three of the nine were positive for HPV 16 by in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes. Currently, the method of in situ hybridization with commercial biotinylated probes is less sensitive than in situ hybridization with 3H-labeled HPV DNA.