Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequences demonstrated by in situ DNA hybridization in serial paraffin-embedded cervical biopsies.

An in situ DNA hybridization technique was used to identify various types of Human papillomavirus (HPV) in paraffin sections of serial punch biopsies taken from 64 patients having colposcopy because of abnormal smears. There women were in fact 64 consecutive patients out of 505 attending our clinic (at 6-month intervals) since 1981 for HPV infections. HPV 6 DNA sequences were found in 20%, HPV 11 in 17%, HPV 16 in 8% and HPV 18 in 5% of the 64 biopsies analysed with this method so far. More than 60% of HPV 6-positive lesions belong to HPV-NCIN (HPV lesion without concomitant CIN) or HPV-CIN I categories, as contrasted with HPV 16-positive lesions, 80% of which belong to HPV-CIN II and III categories. None of the HPV 16- or HPV 18-infected lesions regressed, as contrasted with 23% and 45% in those infected with HPV 6 and HPV 11, respectively (P less than 0.01). The rate of progression (38.4% and 45.5%, respectively) was markedly lower in HPV 6- and HPV 11 lesions as compared with that (80%) of HPV 16 lesions. The present results while supporting the concept on HPV 16 and HPV 18 as the high risk HPV types in cervical carcinogenesis also emphasize the applicability of the in situ DNA hybridization as a powerful tool in analysis of the specific HPV DNA sequences in routinely progressed biopsies of these lesions.