Evaluation of Human Papilloma Virus Infection in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma from the Caspian Sea Area, North of Iran

Introduction: HPV has been found repeatedly in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues. However,reported detection rates of HPV DNA in these tumors have varied markedly. Differences in detection methods,sample types, and geographic regions of sample origin have been suggested as potential causes of variation. Wehave reported that infection of HPV DNA in ESCC tumors depends on anatomical sites of esophagus of thepatients from Mazandaran, north of Iran. Materials and
Methods: HPV DNA was examined in 46 upper, 69middle and 62 lower third anatomical sites of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens collected fromMazandaran province in north Iran, near the Caspian Littoral as a region with high incidence of ESCC. HPVL1 DNA was detected using Qualitative Real time PCR and MY09/MY11 primers.
Results: 28.3% of upper,29% of middle and 25.8% of lower third of ESCC samples were positive for HPV DNA. 13.6% for males and14.1% for females were HPV positive in all samples.
Conclusions: HPV infection is about one third of ESCCin this area. Findings in this study increase the possibility that HPV is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis.Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary.