Human papillomavirus infection of the fallopian tube as a potential risk factor for epithelial ovarian cancer

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-09, Vol.14 (1), p.21602-12
• Main Authors: Paradowska, Edyta, Haręża, Daria A., Kania, Katarzyna D., Jarych, Dariusz, Wilczyński, Miłosz, Malinowski, Andrzej, Kawecka, Monika, Nowak, Mateusz, Wilczyński, Jacek R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326/596/2560; 631/67; 631/67/1517/1709; Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial - pathology; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial - virology; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - genetics; Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA viruses; DNA, Viral - genetics; Epithelial ovarian cancer; Epstein-Barr virus; Fallopian tube; Fallopian tubes; Fallopian Tubes - pathology; Fallopian Tubes - virology; Female; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Human - isolation & purification; High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16 - genetics; Human papillomavirus 16 - isolation & purification; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Metastases; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Ovarian Neoplasms - virology; Papillomavirus; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Peripheral blood; Polymerase chain reaction; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72814-0

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and herpesviruses are detected in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We sought to analyze the prevalence of HPV’s 16 and 18, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in peripheral blood, ovarian, and fallopian tube (FT) tissue samples collected from 97 EOC patients, including 71 cases of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), and from 60 women with other tumors or non-neoplastic gynecological diseases. DNA isolates were analyzed by PCR methods, including droplet digital PCR. The results demonstrate that (1) HPV16 DNA has been detected in one-third of the FT and tumor samples from EOCs; (2) the prevalence and quantity of HPV16 DNA were significantly higher in FT samples from HGSOCs, non-HGSOCs, and ovarian metastases than in those from non-neoplastic diseases; (3) CMV and EBV have been detected in approximately one-seventh of EOC samples. The results suggest that HPV16 might be a potential risk factor for EOC development.