Twenty-four biopsy specimens from various histologic types of human carcinomas in the lung were analyzed for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. DNA from the individual specimens was tested for the presence of homologous sequences to HPV genotypes 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 18. One anaplastic carcinoma in the lung contained multiple copies of DNA hybridizing under stringent conditions to HPV 16 DNA. The latter DNA has been found to be frequently associated with human genital cancer (cervical, penile, and vulval cancer) and genital Bowen's disease. The HPV 16 positive lung tumor originated from a 61-year-old female patient who underwent hysterectomy due to cervical cancer 9 years earlier.