Confirmation of the association of human papillomavirus with human colon cancer.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been shown to be associated with neoplasms of the human colon using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We now report our use of the polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting to investigate that same association. We selected 38 carcinomas, 21 adenomas, and 24 normal mucosal samples for the current study. Tissue sections were prepared, and then DNA was extracted and subjected to 40 cycles of amplification using Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase and a set of degenerate primers. Amplified products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting. The L1 region of the HPV genome was identified in 13 of 38 carcinomas (32%), 8 of 21 adenomas (38%), and 2 of 24 normal biopsy specimens (8%). These observations validate our previous results and confirm the presence of HPV in human colon mucosa and tumors of that mucosa.