Detection of human Papillomavirus in biopsies of patients with cervical cancer, and its association with prognosis.

Objective: To assess the detection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical biopsies, and its association with clinical response and survival of patients with cervical cancer.

Method: The presence of HPV was determined by polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) of material from 183 paraffin blocks containing biopsies of patients with cervical cancer. Directives of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) were used for the clinical staging of all cases.