The occasional role of low-risk human papillomaviruses 6, 11, 42, 44, and 70 in anogenital carcinoma defined by laser capture microdissection/PCR methodology: results from a global study

Am J Surg Pathol. 2013 Sep;37(9):1299-310. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e31828b6be4.

Abstract

Low-risk human papillomaviruses (LR-HPVs) have been associated occasionally with clinically and pathologically unusual anogenital malignancies. The relation between clinicopathologic features and any pathogenetic role of LR-HPV remains unclear. From a global study of 13,328 anogenital carcinomas, we identified 57 cases in which whole-tissue polymerase chain reaction using SPF10-LiPA25 showed single LR-HPV infection. In 43/46 (93.5%) available carcinomas, multiple polymerase chain reaction assays confirmed single detection of HPV6, 11, 42, 44, or 70 DNA. In 75% (n=32) of these, LR-HPV DNA was confirmed in tumor cells by laser capture microdissection. In 2 cases, including 1 adenocarcinoma, viral DNA was only found outside the tumor. All anogenital tumors with confirmed HPV6/11 showed a distinctive range of papillary, warty or warty-basaloid, squamous, or transitional histology with patchy or negative p16 expression. HPV6-associated cervical tumors occurred at a low median age. HPV42/70 was associated with typical squamous cell carcinoma showing diffuse p16 staining like high-risk HPV-related malignancies. HPV44 was found in malignant cells in 1 case. Viral taxonomy and theoretical analysis show that HPV6/11 belong to a different genus from HPV42/70 with E6/E7 gene products that would not bind pRb or p53, whereas HPV42/70 could bind pRb. Our data support the causal involvement of LR-HPVs in the carcinogenesis of <2% of anogenital malignancies of 2 distinct clinicopathologic patterns related to the genetic structure of the HPV types 6/11 and 70/42. HPV42/70 was associated with typical squamous carcinomas. Importantly all carcinomas associated with HPV6/11 globally showed verruco-papillary, well-differentiated, squamous, or transitional histology without p16 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anus Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Anus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Anus Neoplasms / virology*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma / chemistry
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / virology*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / analysis
  • DNA Probes, HPV
  • DNA, Viral / analysis*
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / chemistry
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / pathology
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / virology*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Male / chemistry
  • Genital Neoplasms, Male / pathology
  • Genital Neoplasms, Male / virology*
  • Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests / methods*
  • Human papillomavirus 11 / genetics*
  • Human papillomavirus 6 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Laser Capture Microdissection*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomavirus Infections / complications
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA Probes, HPV
  • DNA, Viral