Search Results (278)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a non-enveloped DNA virus transmitted through skin-to-skin contact that infects epithelial and mucosal tissue. It has over 200 known genotypes, classified by their pathogenicity as high-risk and low-risk categories. High-risk HPV genotypes are associated with the development of different types of cancers, including cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of mortality in women. In clinical practice and the market, the principal tests used to detect HPV are based on cytology, hybrid detection, and qPCR. However, these methodologies may not be ideal for the required timely diagnosis. Tests have been developed based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests (INAATs) as alternatives. These tests offer multiple advantages over the qPCR, such as not requiring specialized laboratories, highly trained personnel, or expensive equipment like thermocyclers. This review analyzes the different INAATs applied for the detection of HPV, considering the specific characteristics of each test, including the HPV genotypes, gene target, the limit of detection (LOD), detection methods, and detection time. Additionally, we discuss the tests available on the market that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Finally, we address the challenges and potential solutions for the large-scale implementation of INAATs, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Full article

Persistent high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPVs) infection leads to the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions in cervical cells that may lead to cancer. The telomere length, telomerase activity, and species composition of the vaginal microbiome may influence the dynamic of changes and the process of carcinogenesis. In the present study, we analyze relative telomere length (RTL), relative hTERT expression (gene for the telomerase component—reverse transcriptase) in cervical smear cells and vaginal microbiomes. Total RNA and DNA were isolated from tissue samples of 109 patients from the following groups: control, carrier, low-grade or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (L SIL and H SIL, respectively), and cancer. The quantitative PCR method was used to measure telomere length and telomerase expression. Vaginal microbiome bacteria were divided into community state types using morphotype criteria. Significant differences between histopathology groups were confirmed for both relative telomere length and relative hTERT expression (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). A significant difference in RTL was identified between carriers and H SIL (p adj < 0.001) groups, as well as between carriers and L SIL groups (p adj = 0.048). In both cases, RTL was lower among carriers. The highest relative hTERT expression level was recorded in the H SIL group, and the highest relative hTERT expression level was recorded between carriers and the H SIL group (p adj < 0.001). A correlation between genotype and biocenosis was identified for genotype 16+A (p < 0.001). The results suggest that identification of HPV infection, telomere length assessment, and hTERT expression measurement together may be more predictive than each of these analyses performed separately. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic DNA virus that plays a role in different cancer types. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence and types of HPV and its relation with p16, EGFR and clinical findings in lung cancer. HPV and EGFR detection and genotyping of HPV were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and p16 by immunohistochemistry. Fifty lung cancer patients and seven patients with non-neoplastic lung disease were enrolled in this study. HPV was positive in 78% (39/50) of lung cancer cases. HPV 51 was the most frequent type, followed by HPV 16. Moreover, p16 was positive in 24% (12/50) of the cancer patients, and all of these patients were HPV-positive, while 27 HPV-positive patients showed no p16 expression. There was no relationship between HPV infection and p16 (p = 0.05), gender (p = 0.42), age (p = 0.38), or smoking history (p = 0.68). Although not statistically significant, the HPV prevalence was found to be higher in cancer patients compared to non-neoplastic patients. The prevalence of HPV in lung cancer varies across different studies, which may be due to differences in the detection methods, number of patients, geographic regions, and vaccination status. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of HPV in lung cancer pathogenesis. Full article

Background: The objectives were to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the nonavalent human papillomavirus (nHPV) vaccine in adult Spanish women living with HIV (WLHIV); the prevalence of anal and cervical dysplasia and nHPV vaccine genotypes in the anus and cervix; and risk factors for high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection in anal mucosa. Methods: In this single-center, open-arm, non-randomized clinical trial, the nHPV vaccine was administered at 0, 2, and 6 months to WLHIV enrolled between February 2020 and November 2023, measuring vaccine antibody titers pre-vaccination and at 2, 6, and 7 months after the first dose. Cervical and anal cytology and HPV PCR genotyping studies were performed. Women with abnormal cytology and/or anal or cervical HPV infection at baseline underwent high-resolution anoscopy and/or colposcopy. Results: A total of 122 participants were included with mean age of 49.6 years: 52.5% smoked; 10.7% had anal-genital condylomatosis; 38.5% were infected by HR-HPV in the anus and 25.4% in the cervix, most frequently HPV 16; 19.1% had anal intraepithelial neoplasia 1-(AIN1); and 3.1% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 and 2 (CIN1/CIN2). Vaccine administration did not modify viral–immunological status (CD4 [809 ± 226.8 cells/uL vs. 792.35 ± 349.95; p = 0.357]) or plasma HIV load (3.38 ± 4.41 vs. 1.62 ± 2.55 cop/uL [log]; p = 0.125). Anti-HPV antibodies ([IQR: 0–0] vs. 7.63 nm [IQR: 3.46–19.7]; p = 0.0001) and seroconversion rate (8.2% vs. 96.7% [p = 0.0001]) were increased at 7 versus 0 months. There were no severe vaccine-related adverse reactions; injection-site pain was reported by around half of the participants. HR-HPV infection in the anus was solely associated with a concomitant cervix infection (HR 5.027; 95% CI: 1.009–25.042). Conclusions: nHPV vaccine in adult WLHIV is immunogenic and safe. Full article

Precancerous and cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix are known to be associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The screening of high-risk (HR)-HPV infection in the female population has led to the discovery of several cases of a double cervix, a congenital malformation that is very rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HR-HPV infections in women with a double cervix within the National Cervical Cancer Screening program of the Lazio region (Italy). From June 2021 to March 2024, a total of 142,437 samples were analyzed by Seegene’s Anyplex TM II HR-HPV method, which identifies 14 HR-HPV genotypes. For each woman identified with a double cervix, two separate samples were taken from both cervices and analyzed separately. Twenty-seven women with a double cervix were identified (0.019%): 23 women were tested as negative for both cervices, while the remaining four (namely A, B, C, and D) resulted positive. By genotyping, the following results were obtained: (A) Both samples showed genotype 31; (B) one cervix was negative while the other showed genotype 58; (C) one cervix was positive for HPV 18 and 31 while for 18, 31, and 33 in the other; and (D) one cervix showed genotype 66 while the other carried the 66 and 68 genotypes. Double cervix is a very rare condition where the presence of HR-HPV genotypes is not homogeneous. As already described, our study confirms that different genotypes can be detected in double cervix malformation, suggesting the need to perform HPV screening on brushing samples from both cervices. Full article

The data from the literature show that women undergoing a LEEP due to CIN3 have a greater risk of having subsequent high-grade anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer, and the risk is greater for vaginal cancer than for anal and vulvar cancers. It is hypothesized that the laparoscopic hysterectomy procedure may cause a higher incidence of VaIN in hysterectomized women. There are few studies addressing this issue, and they show mixed results. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of high-grade or severe VaIN in the population of women undergoing hysterectomy for CIN3 or benign uterine disease and illustrate the treatment options and follow-up. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 170 women who underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy due to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) or benign gynecological disease. The follow-up strategy included performing a cotest and colposcopy with biopsy if necessary. The median time between primary treatment and a diagnosis of high-grade VaIN was 18 months. Results: High-grade or severe VaIN was found in eight patients after hysterectomy (4.7%). All cases of high-grade VaIN occurred in women with persistent HPV infection. The most frequent genotype was 16. Women hysterectomized due to CIN3 showed an eight-fold greater risk than women hysterectomized due to benign disease of developing high-grade VaIN. The risk of VaIN is low in women hysterectomized due to benign disease. The risk of developing VaIN is greater in women with viral persistence. Conclusion: All these elements suggest that it is a history of HPV-related disease of the lower genital tract and viral persistence, rather than hysterectomy itself, that should be considered risk factors for the development of high-grade VaIN. After hysterectomy, patients with a history of CIN should undergo annual screening with vaginal dome cytology and HPV testing. Full article

The escalating global rates of precancerous lesions associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types not targeted by current vaccines underscore the need to explore the prevalence of HPV types within the Greek female population and their involvement in precancerous lesion development. In the current study, we enrolled a cohort of 253 women aged 18 to 65 years, residing in Greece, who underwent routine screening in three tertiary care referral hospitals. Each participant completed a demographic questionnaire. An HPV DNA test was administered using the VisionArray^® HPV kit (ZytoVision GmbH) to qualitatively detect and genotype 41 clinically relevant HPV genotypes. Of all 253 women examined, 114 (45.1%) tested positive for HPV DNA. The primary type detected was HPV51 (high-risk), present in 21 women (8.3% of the total), followed by HPV54 (low-risk) in 17 women (6.7%); HPV16 (high-risk) ranked third, identified in 14 women (5.5%). Among the HPV-positive women, 65 were positive for high-risk HPV types (57% of HPV-positive women) and were referred for colposcopy and cervical biopsy. These procedures identified 24 women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1) lesions and 2 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 (CIN2) lesions. The most prevalent HPV type among women with CIN1 lesions was HPV16, found in nine (37.5%) women, while HPV51 ranked second, identified in six (25%) women. Both women with CIN2 lesions tested positive for HPV16, whereas one of them was also tested positive for HPV45. Our study is the first to report the prevalence of HPV51 among HPV-positive women in the Greek female population. This highlights the need for further research to fully understand the potential of HPV types not covered by current vaccines, such as HPV51, to cause high-grade lesions or cervical cancer. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent cause of mucosal and cutaneous infections and underlying conditions ranging from benign warts to anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers affecting both males and females, notably cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally and is the most impactful in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the costs of screening and licensed L1-based HPV vaccines pose significant barriers to comprehensive administration. Additionally, the licensed L1-based HPV vaccines fail to protect against all oncogenic HPV types. This study generated three independent lots of an L2-based target antigen (LBTA), which was engineered from conserved linear L2-protective epitopes (aa11–88) from five human alphapapillomavirus genotypes in E. coli under cGMP conditions and adjuvanted with aluminum phosphate. Vaccination of rabbits with LBTA generated high neutralizing antibody titers against all 17 HPV types tested, surpassing the nine types covered by Gardasil^®9. Passive transfer of naïve mice with LBTA antiserum revealed its capacity to confer protection against vaginal challenge with all 17 αHPV types tested. LBTA shows stability at room temperature over >1 month. Standard in vitro and in vivo toxicology studies suggest a promising safety profile. These findings suggest LBTA’s promise as a next-generation vaccine with comprehensive coverage aimed at reducing the economic and healthcare burden of cervical and other HPV+ cancers in LMICs, and it has received regulatory approval for a first-in-human clinical study (NCT05672966). Full article

The menace of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among low- and middle-income countries with no access to a free HPV vaccine is a public health concern. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Nigeria, while the most known types of HPV genotypes being transmitted are the high-risk HPV-16 and 18 genotypes. In this study, we explored the predictors of self-reported HPV infections and HPV genital warts infection among a population of students, non-academic staff, and academic staff of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) University located in Lapai, Nigeria. We also assessed their knowledge about HPV infections and genotypes, and sexual behaviors. An online cross-sectional study was conducted by setting up a structured questionnaire on Google Forms and it was distributed to the university community via Facebook and other social media platforms of the university. The form captured questions on HPV infection, and knowledge about HPV infection and genotypes, as well as the sexual health of the participants. All variables were described using frequencies and percentage distribution; chi-squared test statistics were used to explore the association between HPV infection (medical records of HPV infection) and the participants’ profile, and a logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with HPV genital warts infection among the population. This study reveals those participants between the ages of 26–40 years (81.3%) and those currently not in a sexually active relationship—single/divorced (26.4%)—who have self-reported having the HPV-16 and -18 genotypes. Moreover, participants between 26–40 years of age (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.22–0.89) reported themselves to be carriers of HPV genital warts. Therefore, this study reveals the factors associated with HPV infection and genital warts peculiar to IBB university students and staff. Hence, we suggest the need for HPV awareness programs and free HPV vaccine availability at IBB university. Full article

Background and Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its etiological role in the development of cervical cancer are well established. The cervical cancer mortality rate in Serbia is one of the highest among European countries, and this cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Serbian women aged from 15 to 44. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina. A total of 10,062 cervical specimens from Serbian women were collected and HPV tested in ten years. The study patients were divided into five age groups. HPV genotype testing was performed using a commercial kit to detect 14 high-risk (HR) HPV genotypes. Additionally, cervix cytology data have been available for patients tested in 2022 and 2023. Results: An overall positive rate was found in 43.3% of patients (4356/10,062). A single HPV infection (62.1%) was the main infection pattern. The most frequent HR HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 31, 52, 56, 39, and 51, comprising 62.3% of the detected genotypes, including multiple infections. A significant difference was noted in the HPV prevalence across the different age groups, with a bimodal distribution of HPV infection. The highest prevalence was recorded in the age group ≤ 30 and those after 61 years. Women diagnosed with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) were significantly older compared to others. HR HPV is the most prevalent in patients with HSIL cytological findings (76.5%). The most common type, according to age-specific distribution and cytological findings, was HR HPV 16. Conclusions: This study provides comprehensive data on HR HPV distribution among Serbian women, which can serve as a basis for subsequent monitoring of genotypic distribution. It is particularly significant considering they are missing in the updated ICO/IARC Report for Serbia, and the cervical cancer mortality rate in Serbia is one of the highest among European countries. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has emerged as an etiologic factor of squamous papilloma (SP). The oropharynx and larynx are common sites of SP, but studies on the prevalence of HPV infection in these sites are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the prevalence and characteristics of HPV infection in oropharyngeal SP (OPSP) and laryngeal SP (LSP). HPV detection and genotyping data of patients with pathologically confirmed OPSP and LSP were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 119 patients were enrolled, consisting of 93 patients with OPSP and 26 patients with LSP. Of those patients, 13 patients with OPSP and 14 patients with LSP were positive for HPV infection, accounting for a prevalence of 14.0% and 53.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The most prevalent genotype was HPV16 in OPSP and HPV6 in LSP. Over two-thirds (69.2%) of HPV(+)-OPSP infections were high-risk types compared with 14.3% of HPV(+)-LSP infections (p = 0.004). The prevalence of HPV infection in patients with OPSP and LSP demonstrated no differences in terms of age, sex, and smoking status. These results could provide a better understanding of HPV infection in OPSP and LSP and serve as a background for the epidemiology of HPV-related tumorigenesis of the oropharynx and larynx. Full article

We have been encouraging practicing gynecologists to adopt molecular diagnostics tests, PCR, and cancer biomarkers, as alternatives enabled by these platforms, to traditional Papanicolaou and colposcopy tests, respectively. An aliquot of liquid-based cytology was used for the molecular test [high-risk HPV types, (HR HPV)], another for the PAP test, and one more for p16/Ki67 dual-stain cytology. A total of 4499 laboratory samples were evaluated, and we found that 25.1% of low-grade samples and 47.9% of high-grade samples after PAP testing had a negative HR HPV-PCR result. In those cases, reported as Pap-negative, 22.1% had a positive HR HPV-PCR result. Dual staining with p16/Ki67 biomarkers in samples was positive for HR HPV, and 31.7% were also positive for these markers. Out of the PCR results that were positive for any of these HR HPV subtypes, n 68.3%, we did not find evidence for the presence of cancerous cells, highlighting the importance of performing dual staining with p16/Ki67 after PCR to avoid unnecessary colposcopies. The encountered challenges are a deep-rooted social reluctance in Mexico to abandon traditional Pap smears and the opinion of many specialists. Therefore, we still believe that colposcopy continues to be a preferred procedure over the dual-staining protocol. Full article

Background. The objective of the present study is to investigate the age-specific distribution of HPV genotypes in CIN3 lesions in screened unvaccinated women. These data are essential to optimize current and future screening programs. Methods. A multicenter retrospective study was conducted. A total of 408 unvaccinated women with positive histology and a high-risk HPV genotype were enrolled. Each woman at baseline had HPV DNA testing and HPV genotyping, and all women underwent targeted biopsy and/or treatment with a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) before entering the study. We divided the genotypes into HPV16/18 and HPV non-16/18 (HPV31/33/45/35/39/51/52/58/59/66/68). Women were divided into increasing age categories: <30, 30–44, and ≥45. Results. The percentage of CIN3 associated with HPV16/18 is maximum in women under 30 years of age (85.1%), drops to 75.6% in women aged between 30 and 44 years, and up to 47.2% in women over 45 years. CIN3 in women younger than 30 years was significantly associated with HPV16/18 genotypes (p = 0). Discussion. The data from the present study suggest that the risk of CIN3 is related to the woman’s age and hr HPV genotype. The data highlight two different types of CIN3: a more frequent type, related to HPV16/18, which develops rapidly and in young women, and another, relating to non-16/18 HPV, which develops later at an advanced age and slowly, through low-grade lesions. Full article

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and its progression still represent a great medical challenge worldwide. Clinical evidence has demonstrated the beneficial effects of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) on HPV clinical manifestations; however, evidence of the effect of this molecule on HPV viral load is still lacking. In this in vitro study, 13 ThinPrep Papanicolaou (Pap) tests were treated with a PHMB solution (0.10 g/100 mL) for 2 h. We observed no cytological changes but a significant reduction in the viral load of high-risk (HR) HPV after PHMB treatment, also revealing a dose-dependent antiviral effect. In addition, by stratifying the obtained results according to HR-HPV genotype, we observed a significant reduction in the viral load of HPV 16, P2 (56, 59, 66), 31, and P3 (35, 39, 68) and a strong decrease in the viral load of HPV 45, 52, and P1 (33, 58). Overall, 85% of the analyzed cervical cell samples exhibited an improvement in HPV viral load after PHMB exposure, while only 15% remain unchanged. For the first time, the data from this pilot study support the activity of PHMB on a specific phase of the HPV viral lifecycle, the one regarding the newly generated virions, reducing viral load and thus blocking the infection of other cervical cells. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection among young women. Notably, more than ten years after the introduction of HPV vaccination programs in Europe, it is essential to review the real-world evidence of the incidence of anogenital warts (GWs) among women vaccinated during childhood. In this systematic review, three databases were searched for studies published between January 2008 and September 2023. Nine cohort studies were included. A total of 890,320 HPV-vaccinated women and 1,922,033 unvaccinated women were evaluated. All the studies but one investigated the 4vHPV vaccine. The incidence rate of GWs in vaccinated women ranged from 0.0 to 1650 per 100,000 person-years. The highest incidence rates were found in women vaccinated with one dose at the age of 17–19 years old and in fully vaccinated women only after 19 years of age. Similar incidence values were reported among unvaccinated women. The incidence of GWs was lower when the age at first dose was 9–11 years old. This systematic review reveals that the incidence of GWs among HPV-vaccinated women is related to the age of vaccination and the number of vaccine doses received. In the post-vaccination era, epidemiological surveillance of the incidence of GWs and their genotypes is crucial. Full article