Does human papillomavirus play a role in endometrial carcinogenesis?

SUMMARY To determine the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) and endometrial carcinogenesis by comparing data from women with endometrial carcinoma to those of women with normal endometrial tissue. The survey was conducted for 100 women (50 with endometrial carcinoma and 50 with normal endometrial tissue) through HPV-DNA testing of paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue sections by polymerase chain reaction. Age, cigarette consumption, squamous differentiation and tumor grade, endometrium trophism, and HPV types detected in endometrial tissues were studied. HPV estimated odds ratio was similar in endometrial carcinoma and in normal endometrial tissue. The presence of HPV was not associated with age, tobacco abuse, endometrial histology status, squamous differentiation, or tumoral grade. DNA sequences of HPV types 16 and 18 were the most frequently detected in both groups. An association between HPV and endometrial carcinoma was not observed.