Association of rare human papillomavirus types with genital premalignant and malignant lesions

Abstract

Due to the limited number of reports concerning their association with particular dysplastic and neoplastic lesions, the oncogenic potential of so- called rare or novel human papillomavirus (HPV) types is still unclear. Cytologic smears of biopsy specimens from 358 patients were analyzed for dysplastic or neoplastic lesions and HPV infection. The HPV detection and typing system utilized allowed identification of all mucosal HIPs amplifiable by L1 polymerase chain reaction. Considering only patients infected with a single HPV type (n = 329), rare or novel HPVs (HPV-59), HPV-61, HPV-62, HPV- 66, HPV-70, HPV-73, MM4, MM7, MM8, CP6108, and CP8304) were detected in 28% of normal specimens (n = 46), none of condylomatous lesions (n = 44), 12% of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) (n = 42), 8% of high-grade SILs (n = 142), and 4% of cervical cancers (n = 54). Prevalence and oncogenic potential of distinct rate HPV types seems to be higher than previously assumed.