Interleukin-12-secreting human papillomavirus type 16-transformed cells provide a potent cancer vaccine that generates E7-directed immunity.

The development of a vaccine that would be capable of preventing or curing the (pre)cancerous lesions induced by genital oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is the focus of much research. Many studies are presently evaluating vaccines based on the viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins, both of which are continually expressed by tumor cells. The success of a cancer vaccine relies, in large part, on the induction of a tumor-specific Th1-type immunity.

Wild-type p53 down-regulates transcription from oncogenic human papillomavirus promoters through the epithelial specific enhancer.

High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 immortalizing oncoproteins are expressed from a promoter tightly regulated by an epithelial specific enhancer. To determine if the p53 tumour suppressor protein can modulate the transcription of these genes, we performed co-transfection experiments with plasmids containing the HPV type 16 or 18 long control regions linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene, along with p53 expression vectors. Wild-type, but not mutant, murine or human p53 expression vectors reduced the activity of reporter constructs when co-transfected into HeLa or C33 cell lines.

Human papillomavirus type 16 associated with multifocal transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder in two transplanted patients.

This report describes two cases of rapidly progressive, multifocal transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder that developed in two patients after renal and cardiac transplantation, respectively. In both cases human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification method. To our knowledge, this HPV type has not been previously described in multifocal bladder transitional cell carcinoma in transplanted patients.

Transformation of common warts into squamous cell carcinoma on sun-exposed areas in an immunosuppressed patient.

We report one case of renal transplant recipient who developed widespread multiple verrucous skin lesions. Histologic examination revealed typical warts and, only from several sites exposed to sun (hands and face), a development of dysplasia within the warts and a transformation of some of them toward infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing for DNA by polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification identified HPV type 1 in both warts and SCC.

Demonstration of human papillomavirus type 2 in a verrucous carcinoma of the foot.

This report describes one case of verrucous carcinoma of the foot containing human papillomavirus type 2 DNA which was detected by the polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification method. Our findings suggest that human papillomavirus type 2, which was classically associated with palmoplantar warts, may also play a role in the pathogenesis of peripheral verrucous carcinoma.

[Cancer of the cervix, papillomavirus, contraception and tobacco].

This survey started in May 1989 and deals with 2,436 patients treated by 10 gynecologists from the Brussels region. In addition to routine cytological analysis in cervical smears, an additional test for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV 16, 18 and 33) was advised for these women. Gynecologists filled in a questionnaire about these patients.