Frequency of Human papillomavirus in women attending cervical cancer screening program in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the etiological factor for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. The characterization of HPV genotypes in preneoplastic lesions and cervical cancer could establishes the effectiveness of vaccination plan in Chilean population. The aim of this study was to determine HPV frequency in a group of women including in a cervical screening program in the public health care system in Chile. METHODS: We analyzed 985 cervical smears samples from women with different histological diagnosis, attending to public health care in Temuco-Chile between 2004 and 2012, to detect HPV genotypes, through PCR followed by reverse line blotting assay. RESULTS: HPV was found present in 80.8% (n = 796) of samples. Only a 5.6% of 985 samples were infected with a low-risk HPV, considering multiple infections. 10.5% (n = 8/76) of normal cervical epithelia, 83.5% (n = 208/249) and 87.6% (n = 557/636) of low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, respectively, and 95.8% (n = 23/24) of squamous cervical carcinomas tested positive for HPV. HPV 16 was the most frequent genotype found (Overall 44.9%, n = 442/985; SCC: 62.5%, n = 15/24). A high variability of HPV types was also found in preneoplastic lesions, whereas there was a selection of genotypes in neoplasia. Also, there was a higher risk of infection with HPV 16 in women ≤26 years and 34-41 years old (p < 0.05), meanwhile infections with HPV 16 or HPV 18 have related with cancer development (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide further information about the frequency of HPV genotypes in women with cervical lesions in Chile, and the introduction of new targeted vaccines against a wider spectrum of HPV is suggested.

Evaluation of ZAR1 and SFRP4 methylation status as potentials biomarkers for diagnosis in cervical cancer: exploratory study phase I.

CONTEXT: Aberrant hypermethylation of promoter region of tumor suppressor genes could be used as cancer biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: To test methylation status of ZAR1 and SFRP4 promoter regions as potentials biomarkers for diagnosis of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of cervix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytobrush samples were evaluated by Methylation specific PCR (MSP) and quantitative MSP (qMSP). RESULTS: ZAR1 and SFRP4 methylation frequency increased as the grade of lesion increased and the differences between normal and cervical cancer (CC) are statistically significant (p < 0.0001). qMSP showed higher ZAR1 and SFRP4 methylation levels in cancer than normal epithelia (p < 0.001) and preneoplastics lesions (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: qMSP quantify methylation levels and have high sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: ZAR1 and SFRP4 qMSP could be used as potential biomarker for CC diagnosis.

[Genotyping of human papillomavirus in women under 25 years old treated in the screening program for cervical cancer]. / Genotipificación del virus papiloma humano en mujeres bajo 25 años de edad participantes del Programa Nacional del Cáncer Cérvico-uterino en la Región de la Araucanía, Chile.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of death from malignancy in women. The main causal agent of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is the most common sexually transmitted infection among sexually active youth. An early onset of sexual life increases the chances of HPV infection; this may involve a possible early development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and CC, creating a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: To present HPV frequency in women under the age of 25, treated in the CC screening program and their follow-up after histopathological diagnosis. METHODS: 173 cervical samples were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and non-radioactive reverse hybridization (line blot). RESULTS: The overall frequency of HPV was 84.8%. HPV16 was the most prevalent. In 12.1% of women the cervical lesion persisted or progressed. 28.9% of women had irregular follow-up; in this group, 88% were HPV(+) and 52% had no record of Pap smear in the past 3 years. DISCUSSION: The results reaffirm the usefulness of complementing the Pap and HPV detection as a primary screening tool in sexually active women. They also suggest the possibility of extending the age coverage of the national screening program.

Detection and genotyping of human papillomavirus virus (HPV): a comparative analysis of clinical performance in cervical and urine samples in Chilean women.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infectious agent and is the main cause of cervical cancer (CC). In Chile, CC is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women aged 20-44 years, four times higher than in developed countries. Currently, the detection of HPV infection using a cervical brush is recommended; however, this is an invasive procedure that many women try to avoid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a self-collected, urine-based HPV detection method using conventional PCR followed by a reverse line blot. A PCR-based HPV genotyping was performed on 190 paired cervical and urine samples from gynecological exams at public health centers in the Araucania Region, Chile. HPV DNA detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and reverse line blot assay. Carcinogenic HPV types were present in 64.7% and 65.8% of the cervical and urine samples; the infection rates of HPV16 were 34.7% and 33.2%, respectively. The overall percent agreement between carcinogenic HPV detection in cervical and urine samples was 73.7%, with a moderate concordance rate of carcinogenic HPV detection (kappa = 0.42). Clinical sensitivities for cervical and urine-based sampling methods to diagnose cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 (CIN2/3) by histology were 93.4% and 90.2%, respectively. These results suggest that both cervical brush and urine-based sampling show a good clinical performance in the detection of HPV infection. The urine-based sampling method represents a valuable alternative with a great impact on public health, allowing increased cervical cancer screening coverage among women who do not undergo pelvic examinations.

Frecuencia de virus papiloma humano en tumores no ginecológicos de la Región de la Araucanía, Chile / Human papilloma virus frequency in non-gynecological tumors in the Araucanía Region, Chile

El Virus Papiloma Humano (HPV por sus siglas en inglés) es una de las infecciones de transmisión sexual más frecuentes del mundo y se encuentra presente en la mayoría de los cánceres de cuello uterino. Se ha descrito su presencia en otros tipos de cáncer no ginecológicos como lo son esófago y próstata. Sin embargo, las frecuencias de HPV descritas hasta el momento para estos tipos de cáncer son muy variables, y no hay artículos donde se muestren la presencia de HPV en estas neoplasias en Chile. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de HPV en muestras de biopsias de tumores no ginecológicos y tejido inflamatorio de pacientes de la región de La Araucanía. Se extrajo DNA desde un total de 47 biopsias de pacientes con esofagitis, 25 con carcinoma escamoso esofágico, 20 con hiperplasia nodular de la próstata y 39 con adenocarcinoma prostático. Estas fueron analizadas por PCR de la región L1 del virus y posterior genotipificación por reverse line blot. Se detectó HPV en el 53,2% de las muestras de esofagitis, 48% en muestras de carcinoma escamoso esofágico, 15% en hiperplasia nodular de la próstata y un 15,4% en los casos de adenocarcinoma prostático. Siendo los más frecuentes los genotipos de HPV 16 y 18, ya sea en infecciones simples o junto con otros genotipos, en lesiones preneoplásicas y neoplásicas de los tejidos estudiados. Existe una alta frecuencia de infección por HPV en biopsias de esofagitis y tejido inflamatorio esofágico de pacientes de la región de la Araucanía. En los casos de adenocarcinoma prostático e hiperplasia nodular de la próstata se observa una baja frecuencia de HPV.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world and it is present in practically all cervical cancers. Its presence was described in other types of non-gynecologic cancer such as esophageal and prostate. However, HPV frequency described for these cancers is highly variable, and there are no articles describing the presence of HPV in these tumors in Chile. To determine HPV frequency in samples from biopsies of non-gynecological tumors and inflammatory tissue from patients in the Araucanía region, DNA was extracted from a total of 47 biopsies from patients with esophagitis, 25 with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 20 with prostate nodular hyperplasia and 39 with prostate adenocarcinoma. These were analyzed by PCR of HPV L1 region and subsequent genotyping by reverse line blot. HPV was detected in 53.2% of esophagitis samples, 48% in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 15% in prostatitis and 15.4% in cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma. The most frequent HPV genotypes were 16 and 18, either single or in combination with other genotype infections, in inflammatory tissue and neoplastic lesions. In patients of the Araucanía region, there is a high rate of HPV infection in biopsies obtained in esophagitis and esophageal inflammatory tissue. In cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma and prostate nodular hyperplasia a low rate of HPV was observed.

Genotipificación del virus papiloma humano en mujeres bajo 25 años de edad participantes del Programa Nacional del Cáncer Cérvico-uterino en la Región de la Araucanía, Chile / Genotyping of human papillomavirus in women under 25 years old treated in the screening program for cervical cancer

Background: In Chile, cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of death from malignancy in women. The main causal agent of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is the most common sexually transmitted infection among sexually active youth. An early onset of sexual life increases the chances of HPV infection; this may involve a possible early development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and CC, creating a major public health problem. Objective: To present HPV frequency in women under the age of 25, treated in the CC screening program and their follow-up after histopathological diagnosis. Methods: 173 cervical samples were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and non-radioactive reverse hybridization (line blot). Results: The overall frequency of HPV was 84.8%. HPV16 was the most prevalent. In 12.1% of women the cervical lesion persisted or progressed. 28.9% of women had irregular follow-up; in this group, 88% were HPV(+) and 52% had no record of Pap smear in the past 3 years. Discussion: The results reaffirm the usefulness of complementing the Pap and HPV detection as a primary screening tool in sexually active women. They also suggest the possibility of extending the age coverage of the national screening program.

Introducción: En Chile, el cáncer cérvico-uterino (CCU) es la segunda causa de muerte por neoplasias malignas en la mujer. El principal agente causal es el virus papiloma humano (VPH), descrito como la infección de transmisión sexual más frecuente entre jóvenes sexualmente activas. El comienzo precoz de la vida sexual incrementa las posibilidades de infección con VPH; esto puede implicar un eventual desarrollo prematuro de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical y CCU, creando un importante problema de salud pública. Objetivo: Presentar la frecuencia del VPH en mujeres bajo 25 años de edad, participantes del programa de CCU y su seguimiento post-lesión. Material y Métodos: Se genotipificaron 173 muestras cervicales, mediante reacción de polimerasa en cadena e hibridación no radioactiva (reverse line blot). Resultados: La frecuencia global del VPH fue 84,8%. El genotipo más frecuente fue VPH16. En 12,3% la lesión cervical persistió o evolucionó a una mayor. Se encontró 28,9% de mujeres con seguimiento post-lesión irregular; en este grupo, 88% fue VPH (+) y 52% no tuvo registro de Papanicolaou en los últimos tres años. Discusión: Los resultados obtenidos reafirman la utilidad de complementar el Papanicolaou con detección del VPH como herramienta de tamizaje primario en mujeres sexualmente activas. Además sugieren la posibilidad de ampliar la edad de cobertura del programa de tamizaje.