Detection of type-specific human papillomavirus–clinical utility in cervical cancer management

Infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary source for the progression of cervical cancer. Several types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with a range of benign and malignant lesions including genital condyloma and anogenital cancer as well as for the development of genital warts.

Thirty cervical specimens from the department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of SMI Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun were collected for the present study. Genotyping and screening of clinically relevant HPVs were done using multiplex PCR applying Dual Priming Oligonucleotide (DPO) technology which can simultaneously detect genotype (HPV-16 and 18), HPV type 6 and 11 and screen out 16 high-risk HPV types (26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 73, 82). Six patients came positive for Human papillomavirus. Patients with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL) and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSILS) were highest in number (05). LGSIL positive cases harbored HPV type 16 (03 cases) where as patients with HGSIL were HPV type 16, HPV type 18, HPV mixed types and HPV type 11 positive. A case with cervitis harbored HPV type 16.

Thus the conventional PCR using DPO technology is helpful for detecting and screening clinically significant HPV genotypes so that the existing vaccines for the particular genotype can be prescribed as well as for HPV types causing generalized and genital warts, proper treatment can be given to the patient. However more epidemiological research on the prevalence of various HPV types is required before the need for regionally-tailored vaccines is confirmed.