Nested Multiplex PCR Based Detection of Human Papillomavirusin Cervical Carcinoma Patients of North- East India

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Persistent infection of one or more of about 15 high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs),most commonly HPV types 16/18, has a significant role in cervical cancer initiation and progression. There arelimited data available from north-east India about HPV prevalence though this region has high incidence ratesof cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the HPV genotypes prevalent in cervical cancerpatients of north-east India. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: We analyzed 107 cervical cancer patient samples. Nestedmultiplex PCR assays were employed for detection of 13 high risk and 5 low risk HPV types. <br/><b>Results</b>: HPV wasconfirmed in 105 samples. The presence of 6 ‘carcinogenic’ HPV types, HPV-16 (88%), -18 (15%), -31(4%) ,-45(3%), -59 (4%), -58(1%), and one non carcinogenic, HPV-6/11 (6%), was recorded. Among various demographicand clinical factors only tumour stage showed a statistically significant association with HPV type infection(P=0.019). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: We suggest that the most prevalent genotype is HPV-16 followed by HPV-18 in cervicalcarcinoma patients of the north-eastern region of India. Advanced tumour stage may be associated with increasedpossibility of harbouring multiple HPV genotypes.