DNA aneuploidy and infection of human papillomavirus type 16 in preneoplastic lesions of the uterine cervix: correlation with progression to malignancy

A microphotometric analysis of nuclear DNA ploidy and detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA was carried out in 50 cases of mild, moderate and severe dysplasia of the uterine cervix along with an equal number of matched controls in order to understand their relative importance in malignant progression of the disease in women. Twenty-two (44.0%) cases of dysplasia showed an aneuploid DNA pattern while positivity for high risk HPV type 16 DNA was found in twenty-three (46.0%) cases. Thirty-four women with twice confirmed mild and moderate dysplasia have been followed up for 24 months. Follow-up data revealed that eight (72.7%) of the 11 patients having an aneuploid DNA pattern and positivity for HPV 16 progressed to carcinoma in situ (CIS) compared to only one (4.4%) case which was positive for HPV 16 with a non-aneuploid DNA pattern. This suggests that a combined analysis of infection of high risk HPV type 16 and aneuploid DNA pattern may serve as an important biological indicator to predict the potential of precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix for progression to malignancy.