Human papillomavirus localization in cervical adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma using in situ polymerase chain reaction: review of the literature of human papillomavirus detection in these carcinomas.

Many studies have suggested that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of the cervical adenocarcinoma. However, the prevalence of HPV infection in cervical adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma varies among the studies. Cervical adenocarcinoma (24 cases) and adenosquamous carcinoma (16 cases), including the underlying non-neoplastic epithelium were examined for HPV-DNA using in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which enabled visualization of the localization on a glass slide. In adenocarcinoma, HPV-DNA was found in 13 cases (54%) and in eight cases in underlying non-neoplastic epithelium, resulting in a total of 21 positive cases (88%). In adenosquamous carcinoma, HPV-DNA was detected in 12 cases (75%) and and the HPV-DNA localization of each component was pure adenocarcinoma, 28.6%; mixed, 54.5%; and pure squamous cell carcinoma, 83.3%. In the underlying non-neoplastic epithelium, HPV-DNA was found more frequently in the squamous epithelium (73.3%) than the cervical glands (6.3%). In conclusion, HPV-DNA was detected in 54% of adenocarcinoma, and the rate was elevated by HPV localization in the underlying non-neoplastic epithelium. HPV infection in the underlying squamous epithelium might be related to the carcinogenesis, even in cervical adenocarcinoma. HPV-DNA localization was different in each component of adenosquamous carcinoma.