The aetiological significance of human papillomavirus in bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA types 6, 11 and 16 in histological sections of human bladder cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-five formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded bladder tumour specimens were analysed for the presence of HPV infection using Southern blotting DNA hybridization and radiolabelled probes for HPV DNA types 6/11 and 16.

RESULTS

Despite the detection of HPV DNA type 6, 11 and 16 in positive control samples and the successful detection of HPV DNA in anogenital cancer using the same technique, no HPV DNA was found in any of the bladder tumour specimens examined.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a technique with proven efficacy in the detection of HPV DNA from histological specimens, no HPV DNA was present in any of the bladder tumours examined. This finding is in agreement with most recently published studies suggesting that HPV has no significant role in the development of human bladder cancer.