Background: The aim of this study was to determine the physical state of HPV16 DNA and to reveal any association between the physical state of virus DNA and pathologic or prognostic factors in HPV16 positive cervical cancers. The other aim was to estimate the role of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in disease progression.
Materials and methods: The presence and physical state of HPV16 DNA was analysed by Southern blot hybridisation and E1-E2 specific PCRs in the primary tumours and pelvic lymph nodes of 85 cervical carcinoma patients. Results Integrated HPV16 DNA was found in 32 out of 41 (78%) primary tumours and 2 out of 22 (95%) lymph nodes carrying HPV16 DNA. No significant association was found between integration of virus DNA and course of the disease. There was a trend towards an association between disease recurrence and the presence of the p53 codon 72 arginine homozygous genotype (OR = 3.41, p = 0.23).
Conclusion: The physical state of HPV16 DNA does not seem to play a major role as a prognostic indicator in Hungarian cervical cancer patients, while the p53 codon 72 genotype may have an impact on the clinical outcome of the disease.