Verrucous carcinoma of the vulva associated with an unusual type 6 human papillomavirus.

An unusually rapid growing vulvar verrucous carcinoma found associated with human papillomavirus type 6 is described. Both human papillomavirus structural antigens and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences were detected in the tumor biopsy. The human papillomavirus genome was isolated and compared with the genome of human papillomavirus type 6b, which was cloned from an anogenital wart. The two genomes were extremely homologous in genomic organization and DNA sequence, except for a region on the viral genome containing the virus control elements. A discussion of this observation and how it could relate to the importance of viral subtypes follows.