2011-10-04

3rd International Conference on Viral Oncology Research. 4-6 October 2011: 3rd International Conference on Viral Oncology Research, Naples, Italy. M. Atzori[1] , M. Marini[1] , R. Lussu[1] , M. Piga[2] , A. De Montis[1]

1Research Laboratories bcs Biotech S.p.A.
2Pathological Anatomy SS Trinità ASL-8 Cagliari

Background
Worldwide cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Cervical cancer is strongly associated with persistent infection of high risk oncogenic types of Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Development of effective vaccines against the virus has created considerable issues world-wide and involves implications for prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotype distribution of HPV in patients with cytological high and low grade lesions.

Materials and methods
Were selected 53 cervical smears from Italian women subjected to cytological screening (Pap Test). 30 samples showed cytological high grade lesion (HSIL) and 23 samples showed cytological low grade lesion (LSIL). HPV genotypes were identified using a molecular analysis technique that allows to detect L1 and E6/E7 regions of HR-HPV genome (Biochip). Results In patients with HSIL, HPV genotypes were in order of decreasing frequency as follows: HPV16, HPV33, HPV18, HPV31, HPV35 and a rate of samples were positive for E6/E7 sequences of HR-HPV types no detectable with respect to L1 region. There were not found low risk HPV (LR-HPV). In patients with LSIL were detected in order: HPV16, HPV6, HPV11, HPV18, HPV35; a rate of samples were positive for E6/E7 sequences.

Conclusions
These preliminary data show a high number of HR-HPV types in patients with LSIL that, in persistent infections, could lead towards high-grade lesions. Samples positive only for E6/E7 HR-HPV sequences suggest the importance of also seeking E6/E7 regions in addition to L1 region to detect undiagnosed HR-HPV infections. A rate of patients had non-vaccine HR- HPV types infection, despite recent studies show that currently available vaccines offer some cross-protection to few associated genotypes. Acknowledgements This work is supported by the operating program of Regione Sardegna (European Social Fund 2007-2013), L.R.7/2007, “Promotion of scientific research and technological innovation in Sardinia”. We thank bcs Biotech S.p.A. for technical and logistical support.

References
F.Piras, M.Piga, A.De Montis, M.Atzori, M.Pittau, D.Murtas, L.Minerba, C.Maxia, M.T.Perra, P.Sirigu: Human papilloma virus type distribution and correlation with cyto-histological patterns in women from Benin. IJAE 2010 Vol.115 N°1/2