Objectives: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections especially 16 and 18 are risk factors for squamous cell vulvar cancer. E6 protein of HPV joins the tumor suppressor protein P53 and promotes its degradation. This is one of the possible mechanisms of viral oncogenes action.
Design: In this study the quantitative analysis of mRNA copies E6 HPV 18 and mRNA P53 expression in vulvar cancer tissue was performed. The expression of analysed genes was applied in the assessment of surgical treatment range.
Materials and methods: The specimens from a 26 year old woman with vulvar squamous cell cancer stage II FIGO treated surgically modo Way were analysed. The number of DNA and mRNA copies E6 HPV and P53 were examined basing on Q-PCR standard curves for beta-actine by use of Perkin Elmer-kit and the sequence detector ABI PRISM 7700-Taq Man application.
Results: The overexpression of mRNA E6 HPV and P53 in analysed specimens was found. The highest number of mRNA copies in cancer tissue was ascertained. In lichen sclerosus and lymphonoduli tissue lower number of analysed copies was found.
Conclusion: The quantitative analysis of E6 HPV and P53 genes expression can be useful in the assessment of surgical treatment range in vulvar cancer and can also be used as a prognostic marker.