Colorectal papillomavirus infection in patients with colorectal cancer

Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Apr 15;11(8):2862-7. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-1680.

Abstract

Purpose: Infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) is associated with the development of cervical cancer, but whether HPVs have a role in colorectal cancer remains controversial.

Experimental designs: To determine the relationship between HPV and colorectal cancer, we did a retrospective, controlled study using tumor and tumor-adjacent colorectal tissues dissected from patients with colorectal cancer, as well as colorectal tissues from control individuals with no cancer. The samples were processed in a blinded fashion for nested PCR and in situ PCR detection of HPV DNAs. The PCR products were gel-purified and sequenced for HPV genotyping.

Results: We found that colorectal tissues from 28 of 55 (51%) patients with colorectal cancer were positive for HPV DNA. Colorectal tissues from all 10 control individuals were negative for HPV DNA (P = 0.0034). Of the 107 usable (GAPDH(+)) samples collected as paired colorectal tissues (tumor and tumor-adjacent tissues) from the patients, 38 (36%) had HPV16 (n = 31), HPV18 (n = 5), or HPV45 (n = 2), with HPV DNA in both tumor and tumor-adjacent tissues of 10 paired samples, 13 in only the tumor, and 5 in only tumor-adjacent tissues. In situ PCR detection of the tumor tissues confirmed the presence of HPV DNA in tumor cells.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that colorectal HPV infection is common in patients with colorectal cancer, albeit at a low DNA copy number, with HPV16 being the most prevalent type. HPV infection may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / virology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colon / virology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / virology*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Rectum / pathology
  • Rectum / virology
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • DNA, Viral