Human papillomavirus genotype in cervical cancer: A population‐based study

Abstract
Our aim was to investigate the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution and correlation between HPV parameters and clinicopathological variables in cervical carcinoma treated in a large tertiary referral medical center in Taiwan. Consecutive patients treated for cervical carcinoma (Stages I–IV according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) between 1993 and 2000 were included. HPV genotyping using SPF1/GP6+ PCR was performed, followed by hybridization with a genechip (Easychip® HPV Blot, King Car, Taiwan). E6 type-specific PCR was performed to validate multiple-type. HPV-negative samples were further verified by type-specific PCR and a repeat HPV Blot. A total of 2,118 patients were eligible for analysis. HPV DNA sequences were detected in 96.6% (95% CI, 95.8–97.4%) of the specimens, among which 82% harbored single-type and 18% contained multiple-type HPV sequences. Thirty-five types of HPV were identified and the leading 8 were HPV16 (50.0%), HPV18 (17.8%), HPV58 (16.3%), HPV33 (8.7%), HPV52 (6.8%), HPV39 (3.0%), HPV45 (2.5%) and HPV31 (2.3%). HPV58 or 33 or 52 was detected in 30.3% (641/2,118). By multivariate analysis, HPV58- or 33- or 52-infection was significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001) and primary radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiation (RT/CCRT) (p < 0.001). Among HPV-positive cases, multiple-type was more frequently seen in those receiving primary RT/CCRT (p < 0.001). The knowledge of HPV genotype distribution will form a basis for guidelines in HPV-based cervical cancer screening and cost-effective multivalent HPV vaccine policy in Taiwan and in the world. The association between HPV parameters and clinicopathological variables warrants further investigations.