Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, human papillomavirus, and polyomavirus are not detectable in human tissue with epithelial ovarian cancer, borderline tumor, or benign conditions.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the presence of the microorganisms Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, human papillomavirus (HPV), and the polyomaviruses BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV) in ovarian tissues of women with ovarian carcinomas, borderline tumors, and benign conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Ovarian tissue, snap-frozen and stored at -80 degrees C, from 186 women with benign conditions, borderline tumors, and epithelial ovarian cancer, as well as tissue from the contralateral ovary of 126 of these women, were analyzed regarding presence of C trachomatis and N gonorrhoeae (transcription mediated amplification), M genitalium (real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR]), HPV (PCR), and BKV and JCV (PCR). RESULTS: All the tissue samples studied were found negative for the microorganisms analyzed. CONCLUSION: C trachomatis, M genitalium, N gonorrhoeae, HPV, and the polyomaviruses BKV and JCV are not detectable in ovarian tissues either from women with benign conditions and borderline tumors or from women with ovarian cancer.

Direct visualization of Propionibacterium acnes in prostate tissue by multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization assay.

Prostate tissues from patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) frequently contain histological inflammation, and a proportion of these patients show evidence of Propionibacterium acnes infection in the prostate gland. We developed a multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay targeting P. acnes 23S rRNA along with a 14-kb region of the P. acnes genome. This assay was used to analyze prostate tissues from patients with prostate cancer and BPH. P. acnes infection of the prostate gland was demonstrated in prostatic tissue in 5 of 10 randomly selected prostate cancer patients. FISH analysis and confocal laser microscopy imaging revealed intracellular localization and stromal biofilm-like aggregates as common forms of P. acnes infection in prostate tissues from both prostate cancer and BPH patients. A sequential analysis of prostate tissue from individual patients suggested that P. acnes can persist for up to 6 years in the prostate gland. These results indicate that P. acnes can establish a persistent infection in the prostate gland. Further study is needed to clarify the link between this bacterium and prostatic inflammation which may contribute to the development of BPH and prostate cancer.

Detection of Escherichia coli 16S RNA and cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 gene in benign prostate hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammation and occasionally necrosis is observed in the prostate tissue from patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The etiology of prostatic inflammation/necrosis is unknown, but bacteria may be involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of archival prostate tissue samples collected during 1982-1997 was undertaken. Three hundred fifty-two specimens from patients with BPH obtained via transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) were studied for the presence of Escherichia coli 16S RNA and E. coli virulence factor genes: cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf1), alpha-hemolysin (hly), an autotransported protein (sat), and P fimbriae (papC). RESULTS: E. coli 16S RNA was detected in 12 (3%) samples and cnf1 gene in six (1.5%) samples, with two samples being positive for both markers. hly, sat, papC genes were not detected. Of 6 cnf1-positive samples, severe inflammation and necrosis were present in four and three samples, respectively. Of eight E. coli-positive/cnf1-negative samples, five showed signs of severe inflammation and two showed severe necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: A small proportion of patients with BPH undergoing TURP are positive for E. coli 16S RNA and cnf1 gene in the prostate tissue. Further studies are needed to show that particular E. coli genotypes are involved in the development of prostatic inflammation/necrosis in BPH.