Age-related distribution of human papillomavirus genotypes in women with cervical squamous cell carcinoma from Linyi, China, 2015-2023.

BACKGROUND

Understanding the regional HPV genotype profile is critical for informing targeted vaccination strategies and optimizing cervical cancer screening programs to enhance their effectiveness. This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes among women with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in Linyi city, China, from 2015 to 2023.

METHODS

Data were obtained from 606 women histologically diagnosed with CSCC at Linyi Cancer Hospital between January 2015 and December 2023. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue samples. HPV genotyping was performed via gene chip-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. Temporal trends and age-specific variations in HPV genotype distribution were analyzed to provide a comprehensive epidemiological assessment.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 94.7% among 606 women with CSCC. HPV 16 was the most prevalent genotype (80.5%), followed by HPV 18 (5.2%), HPV 33 (2.8%), HPV 31 (1.8%), and HPV 58 (1.8%). Single infections were predominant (95.5%), while coinfections were observed in 4.5% of the cases. Age-specific analysis revealed that non-HPV 16 infections were more prevalent in women aged > 45 years, with greater genotype diversity in older age groups. Temporal trends indicated a decline in the prevalence of younger CSCC patients (26-45 years), whereas the prevalence of older women significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that HPV genotype diversity in CSCC patients varies with age, highlighting the need for age-stratified and personalized cervical cancer prevention strategies. Enhanced screening efforts for older women are essential because of the greater genotypes diversity in this group. Additionally, the observed trends in HPV prevalence over time suggest that HPV vaccination has effectively reduced the incidence of CSCC in women under 45 years of age. These findings emphasize the importance of expanding vaccination coverage and optimizing screening programs to further reduce the cervical cancer burden across different age groups.