Prevalence of HPV and variation of HPV 16/HPV 18 E6/E7 genes in cervical cancer in women in South West China.

Genetic variations of High-Risk HPV E6/E7 may be associated with the development of cervical cancer in specific geographic regions. Few data have been reported about the HPV prevalence and E6/E7 variants among cervical cancer patients in Southwest China. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of HPV and E6/E7 variants of most prevalent HPV among cervical cancer patients in Southwest China. After genotyping, E6/E7 genes of most prevalent HR HPV samples were sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic trees were then constructed, followed by an analysis of the diversity of secondary structure and selection pressures. HPV 16 (73.8%) and HPV 18 (16.4%) are the most prevalent infection types among cervical cancer patients, followed by HPV 58, HPV 56 and HPV 59, which is different from the high HPV 58 infection rate of outpatients in this region. Eighteen single nucleotide changes were observed in HPV 16 E6 with 13/18 non-synonymous mutations (5 in beta sheet and 2 in alpha helix). Ten single nucleotide changes were identified among HPV 16 E7 with 3/10 non-synonymous mutations. Three single nucleotide changes were observed in HPV 18 E6 with one non-synonymous mutation, and only one synonymous mutation was identified in HPV 18 E7. HPV 16 E6-D25E, E7-N29S and E7-T846C (S95S) exhibited a prevalent linkage mutation. The phylogenetic tree demonstrates that European and Asian lineages were the main patterns. This study may help understand the intrinsic geographical relatedness and oncogenic potential of HR HPV and contributes further to research of diagnostic, therapeutic and therapeutic vaccine strategy.