Antibody response to a synthetic peptide derived from the human papillomavirus type 6/11 L2 protein in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: correlation between Southern blot hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and serology.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is the most common benign tumour of the larynx, affecting both children and adults. We present a series of 25 patients, including 10 cases of juvenile multiple, 8 cases of adult solitary, and 7 cases of adult multiple RRP. Biopsy tissue from each patient was screened by Southern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Sera from patients and age- and sex-matched controls were tested for the presence of HPV-specific antibodies using a synthetic peptide derived from the minor capsid protein (L2) of HPV 6/11. By Southern blot hybridization and/or polymerase chain reaction, biopsies from all patients were positive for HPV 6/11 DNA. There was no difference in antibody response between cases and controls. Female cases and controls had significantly higher antibody titers than male subjects. A correlation was observed between the HPV-specific antibody level and the number of surgery-necessitating recurrences.