Molecular detection of human papillomavirus among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the presence of human papillomavirus in prostate and its association with prostate cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. Tissue samples with benign hyperplasia and prostate cancer were collected. Risk factors related to prostate cancer and human papillomavirus were assessed by a medical interview. Prostate tissue was obtained by transrectal biopsy or transurethral resection. The identification of viral genome was assessed by the amplification of 450 pb., from L1 gene. Real time PCR was used to identified HPV genotypes 16 and 18. For data analysis, the X-2 test, Student's T test or Mann-Whitney U test and OR were computed. RESULTS: Thirty and 99 with benign prostate hyperplasia were included in a 1:3 ratio, with a mean age of 69.44 +/- 9.22 years. The global prevalence of human papillomavirus was 15.2% being similar in both cases (15.6%) and controls (15.1%) with no significant difference (p = 0.572). Forty percent of the infections were persistent. From all positive samples, only in the 40% were identified some of the genotypes analyzed (16 and 18). The group of patients with Gleason score de > 7 had a virus prevalence of 16% CONCLUSIONS: The results show the presence of the human papillomavirus genome in prostate tissue with and without neoplasia; no association was found between infection and prostate cancer.