Distribution of human papillomavirus types in cervical cancers in Hong Kong: Current situation and changes over the last decades

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution among cervical cancers and its possible changes over time are key issues that determine the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccines. Cervical cancers diagnosed during 3 periods (1997-2007, N 5 280; 1984-1986, N 5 74; 1972-1973, N 5 81) in Hong Kong were examined for HPV type distribution using sensitive broad-catching methods. The results showed a variation in HPV distribution between histological groups. Among cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases diagnosed over the past 10 years, HPV16 was most commonly found (61.2%), followed by HPV18 (17.7%), HPV52 (14.7%) and HPV58 (9.9%), whereas adeno/adenosquamous cell carcinoma was dominated by HPV18 (56.3%) and HPV16 (50.0%). The proportion of HPV16-positive SCC showed a significant linear trend of increase with time (45.2% for 1972-1973, 58.8% for 1984-1986, 61.2% for 1997-2007; p Trend 5 0.023), whereas HPV52-positive SCC decreased with time (30.1% for 1972-1973; 29.4% for 1984-1986, 14.7% for 1997-2007 Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays an essential, though insufficient, role in the development of cervical cancer. [1][2][3][4] There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the female genital tract. These genital HPVs are classified into high risk (HPV16,18,31,33,35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73 and 82), probable high risk (HPV26, 53, 66, 67, 69 and IS39), and low and unknown risk (HPV6,11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72, 81 and CP6108) on the basis of their epidemiological risk for cervical cancer development. [5][6][7][8] The high-risk types show a biased distribution among cancer specimens collected worldwide due to their difference in oncogenicity, and perhaps as well as their intrinsic geographical predilection. 9,10 HPV16 accounts for 52-58% and HPV18 accounts for 13-22% of invasive cervical cancers worldwide, whereas the remaining are caused by a wider spectrum of HPV types that show more geographical variations. 11The 2 currently available vaccines, Cervarix TM (GlaxoSmithKline) and Gardasil TM (Merck Sharp and Dohme), contain HPV16 and HPV18 that altogether cover 70-80% of cervical cancers worldwide. 12-15 These vaccines contain virus-like particles, which induce antibody response that is quite specific to the individual HPV type with limited cross-neutralization even for closely related types. 16 This raises a question on cross-protection. However, the bivalent vaccine, Cervarix TM , adjuvanted with ASO4 reported partial cross-protection against HPV16-related (HPV31) and HPV18-related (HPV45) types. The protection for incident infection with HPV31 was 54.5% (95% CI: 11.5-77.7%) and was 94.2% (95% CI: 63.3-99.9%) for HPV45. 12,13 Furthermore, unpublished data presented at scientific conferences indicate that the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil TM ) adjuvanted with aluminiumhydroxy-phosphate sulphate also offers partial cross-protection against intraepithelial lesions caused by HPV16-related types (mainly HPV31). 17,18 Another issue of concern is type replacement following a large-scale administ...

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in women with cervical cancer or high‐grade precancerous lesions in Chengdu, western China

“…The prevalence of HPV infection among patients with cervical carcinoma varies from 70% to 93% in different regions of China [7,8,10,11]. According to a recent meta-analysis, the prevalence of HPV infection in cervical cancer and high-grade precancerous lesions in China was 83.7% and 66.2%, respectively [12].…”

Prevalence, Clinicopathological Characteristics, and Outcome of Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer in Southern Chinese Patients

“…Previously described procedures were used for DNA extraction and DNA quality assessment (17,18). HPV DNA was detected by PCR using the consensus primers GP5þ/GP6þ_52HK which has a reserve primer modified based on the HPV52 variants circulating in Hong Kong (19).…”

Construction of a Full Transcription Map of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 during Productive Viral Infection

“…Persistent HPV16 infection is responsible for development of both cervical squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In contrast, persistent HPV18 infection is a preferential risk factor for the development of cervical adenocarcinoma (7,10).…”