OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of
human papillomavirus DNA and
genotypes in
breast cancer and normal
breast tissue samples obtained from
women from the northeast region of
Brazil.
METHOD:
One hundred three
breast cancer samples and 95 normal
breast samples, as the non-malignant controls, were studied.
DNA extraction was verified by
human beta-globin gene amplification, and
polymerase chain reaction was conducted based on HPV L1-specific
consensus primers MY09/MY11 and GP5+/GP6+, followed by nested
multiplex polymerase chain reaction with type-specific primers for the E6/E7
consensus region.
RESULTS:
Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 51 (49.5%)
breast carcinoma samples and 15 (15.8%) normal
breast samples (p<0.0001).
Human papillomavirus genotypes 6 and 11 were identified in 15.2% of all samples.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high frequency of
human papillomavirus infection in
breast cancer samples indicates a potential
role of this
virus in
breast carcinogenesis in the studied participants.