High frequency of human papillomavirus infection in carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Background and Methods. The prevalence of type 6, 11, 16, 18, and 33 human papillomavirus (HPV) was investigated with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded material, including 48 neoplastic and 21 normal urinary bladder specimens. The PCR-amplified DNA were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and dot blot and Southern blot hybridization. Some tissues were tested further by nonisotopic in situ hybridization. Results. HPV DNA was detected in 39 (81%) of 48 carcinomas and 7 (33%) of 21 normal urinary bladder specimens, The presence of high-risk HPV (types 16,18, and 33) was increased significantly in carcinoma cases (62%) as compared with normal specimens (14%) (P < 0.01). Similarly, multiple HPV infections were significantly higher in carcinoma (60%) than in the normal tissues (5%) (P < 0.01). The overall and high-risk HPV infections in both neoplastic and normal specimens were distributed almost equally in male and female patients. There was no significant correlation between positive results for HPV and histologic grades of the carcinoma. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that the urinary bladder in both sexes is another site where infection with the common genital tract HPV may carry a risk of malignant transformation. Cancer 1992; 70:1967-1973.