[Studies on the physical state of human papillomavirus 16 DNA in biopsies of patients with cervical carcinoma].

Five biopsies from cervical cancer containing human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 DNA sequences confirmed by dot blot analysis were used to study the physical state of HPV 16 DNA in cervical cancer. Southern blots prepared after: 1) sample DNA was cleaved with restriction enzymes which do not digest HPV 16;2) sample DNA was cleaved with restriction enzymes (pstI) capable of digesting HPV 16 DNA; 3) sample DNA was not digested with restriction enzymes; and 4) two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis was performed on sample DNA digested with enzymes which do not cleave HPV 16 DNA. It was shown that HPV 16 DNA was integrated into the cellular genome.