Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in biopsies from cervical cancer patients; A population–based study from Iran

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with various benign and malignant lesions including genital condyloma and anogenital cancer. The presence of HPV-DNA was studied in archival biopsies of high- and intermediate-risk lesions for cervical carcinoma in women referred to Mirza hospital in Tehran. Patients and methods: Totally, 105 Iranian archived biopsies collected during February and November 2006. HPVDNA was isolated from the biopsies and detected by means of consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detecting a broad spectrum of genital HPV types. Results: Totally, 26 samples (24.7%) were positive for oncogenic HPV-DNA. Risk of HPV infection was significantly higher in biopsies obtained from patients with confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who started sexual activity more recently (?4 years ago) when compared with those who started earlier (?10 years ago). HPV-16 was more frequently detected in biopsies of younger women. Conclusion: HPV was more frequently detected in young women. Our data confirm the usefulness of this method for detection of HPV in archival biopsies.