Role of Viral Infection in the Aetiology-Pathogenesis of Bladder Tumor: A Reality or Chimera?

Abstract

The possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the aetiology of papillary tumor of the bladder has been evaluated and a review of the literature concerning this issue was made. A group of 17 patients affected by bladder papillary tumor was analysed. Surgical specimens were collected for virological and histological analysis. The DNA of the following viruses was searched by polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Adenovirus, Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Human Papillomaviruses (HPV), Polyomaviruses (BKV and JCV). The results showed that 15/17 (88 %) patients with papillary bladder tumor were found negative for each viral-searched DNA; only one sample was positive for HPV (6 %) genotype 6, which is considered to convey a low risk for cancer development and only one was positive for BKV (6 %). From the results obtained there seems to be no relationship between viral infection and the presence of bladder papillary tumor. Moreover, in the examined population the association bladder carcinoma-HPV, found by others, has not been confirmed. The homogeneity of the specimens studied was such that it would not be affected by the temporal factor, as were cases of more or less advanced cancers. Nonetheless specimens from patients with advanced cancers (G III) were negative to HPV infection. The data do not appear indicative for a correlation between viral DNA presence and histological parameters. Thus, in the light of the data emerging from this investigation, no causal relationship can be established between HPV infection and papillary bladder tumors.