Detection of Human Papillomavirus in Korean Breast Cancer Patients by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction and Meta-Analysis of Human Papillomavirus and Breast Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-established oncogenic virus of cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancer. Various subtypes of HPV have been detected in 0% to 60% of breast cancers. The roles of HPV in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer remain controversial. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of HPV-positive breast cancer in Korean patients and to evaluate the possibility of carcinogenic effect of HPV on breast.MethodsMeta-analysis was performed in 22 case-control studies for HPV infection in breast cancer. A total of 123 breast cancers, nine intraductal papillomas and 13 nipple tissues of patients with proven cervical HPV infection were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect 28 subtypes of HPV. Breast cancers were composed of 106 formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) breast cancer samples and 17 touch imprint cytology samples of breast cancers.ResultsThe overall odds ratio between breast cancer and HPV infection was 5.43 (95% confidence interval, 3.24 to 9.12) with I² = 34.5% in meta-analysis of published studies with case-control setting and it was statistically significant. HPV was detected in 22 cases of breast cancers (17.9%) and two cases of intaductal papillomas (22.2%). However, these cases had weak positivity.ConclusionsThese results failed to serve as significant evidence to support the relationship between HPV and breast cancer. Further study with larger epidemiologic population is merited to determine the relationship between HPV and breast cancer.

Oncogenic Viruses and Breast Cancer: Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV), Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)

“…On the other hand HPV gene sequences have been identified in breast tumors in over 40 studies conducted in 20 countries ( 129 , 130 ). With respect to the review of HPVs in human breast cancer, the publications included in the meta-analyses by Bae et al and Choi et al supplemented by more recent publications have been considered and included in Table 5 ( 129 , 130 ). These data indicate that high-risk HPVs are fourfold more prevalent in breast tumors when compared with non-cancer controls.…”

“…The prevalence of high-risk HPV-positive breast cancers varies between 0 or 2% in some Chinese Provinces to 86% in the US ( 118 , 122 ). HPV types 16 and 18 are the most prevalent in breast cancer, however, HPV 33 and 58 are common in China and Japan ( 129 , 130 ). Meta-analyses indicate that infection with high-risk HPVs is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer with an overall odds ratio of 5.4 ( 129 , 130 ).…”

“…HPV types 16 and 18 are the most prevalent in breast cancer, however, HPV 33 and 58 are common in China and Japan ( 129 , 130 ). Meta-analyses indicate that infection with high-risk HPVs is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer with an overall odds ratio of 5.4 ( 129 , 130 ). However, there are marked differences between countries in the prevalence of different types of high-risk HPVs in breast cancer.…”

Absence of Human Papillomavirus in Benign and Malignant Breast Tissue

“…HPV DNA was not discovered in 130 benign and malignant breast tissues, employinga PCR technique by Romano and colleagues (17). Choi and his team (18), using real-time PCR, identified HPV in 17.9% of 123 cancers and 22.2% of nine intraductal papillomas. These patients were confirmed to have HPV infection of uterine cervix.…”

Is the HPV virus responsible for the development of breast cancer?

“…Furthermore, HPV virus has been detected not only in malignant tissues but also in benign breast lesions such as fibroadenoma and intraductal papilloma. The available studies revealed approximately 19.8% positivity of HPV infections in breast cancer tissue ranging from 0% to 66% with various high‐risk subtypes detected: HPV‐11, HPV‐16, HPV‐18, HPV‐33, HPV‐58, HPV‐79, HPV‐73, and HPV‐82 …”