Correlation of Human Papillomavirus Infection with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) plays an important role in the genesis of cancers of cervix and oral cavity. Squamous epithelium of esophagus is an appropriate site for HPV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of this infection with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In a case-control study forty cases of ESCC and forty controls with nonmalignant specimens from the patients referred to Imam Khomeini hospital–Sari (Mazandaran, Iran) during eight years (2001-2008) were enrolled. Extracted DNAs from the specimens were analyzed for HPV DNA with the commercial kits available for HPV. Fifteen (37.5%) cases of ESCC and 5 (12.5%) specimens of controls were positive for HPV DNA (p=0.03). The most common genotypes in the ESCC patients and control group were HPV16 & HPV45 (each 15% for ESCC patients; HPV16 7.5% and HPV45 five percent for the controls). There was no significant difference for HPV genotype and patient’s age, sex or tumor’s stage and grade. HPV may be counted as an important risk factor for ESCC in northern region of Iran.