Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction in Lampang Cancer Hospital

Abstract

Background: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection can cause diseases such as warts, benign and tumors including cervical cancer. Latest, recent statistical results have revealed that cervical cancer is ranked the second highest of cancer diseases in Lampang Cancer Hospital (LPCH). Since 2013, HPV high risk (HR) test has been used to screen cervical cancer in combination with liquid-based cytology test in LPCH for early detection of cervix abnormalities. Objectives: To report the prevalence of HR-HPV infection detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in LPCH during 1st October 2014 to 30th September 2016. Materials and methods: HR-HPV testing was done by real-time PCR technique using HPV-Risk assay kit. Cervical cell PAP smears were collected and prepared by liquid-based cytology system (PathTezt) and interpretation followed the Bethesda system. Results: Results of the study detected 305 out of 4,789 women who participated in the screening program being positive with HR-HPV viruses related to cervical cancer. This represented 6% of positive cases. Of the 305 positive cases, 72 were infected with HPV 16 and 18 genotype which are the most common causes of cervical cancer. Conclusion: Prevalence of HR-HPV infection detected by real time-PCR was no different from those detected by PCR and DNA hybridization technique. Advantages in using real time-PCR are primarily, time and cost savings which are of essential importance in laboratory operations. An added benefit in this new technique, is the greater degree of accuracy where the E7 region is probed instead of the L1 region where mis-detection is common.

Keywords

• Human papilloma virus
• high risk-HPV
• cervical cancer