Human papillomavirus DNA sequences in penile carcinomas in Brazil.

To detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in penile cancers, 18 squamous-cell carcinomas were studied by Southern blot analysis. All specimens were from Brazilian patients ranging in age from 31 to 78 years. Of these, 7 harbored DNA sequence homology. Most positive specimens contained more than 100 copies of viral DNA. No HPV 16 was detected in our samples. Presence of HPV DNA sequences in the samples studied was not correlated with the patients' age or race, nor with extent or progress of disease.