Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in penile carcinomas and in two cell lines from high-incidence areas for genital cancers in Africa.

Biopsies of 13 penile cancers (PC), from patients living in regions of Uganda with a high incidence of genital cancers, were studied for the presence, molecular characteristics and physical state of DNA related to that of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33. HPV DNA sequences were detected in all PC specimens by dot/Southern blot analyses and by gene amplification of DNA sequences highly conserved among several HPVs. HPV 16 DNA sequences were found in one PC; DNA sequences with low homology to HPV16 or HPV18 were present in all other samples.

Neopterin and alpha-interferon in patients affected by Kaposi's sarcoma from Africa.

The presence of circulating alpha-interferon and neopterin was investigated in sera of 47 patients affected by African Kaposi's sarcoma, both HIV-seropositive (13 patients) and HIV-seronegative (34 patients). For comparison, analyses were also performed in 20 HIV-seropositive symptomatic African subjects as well as in 20 African and 20 Italian healthy individuals. Alpha-interferon and neopterin levels appeared significantly higher in comparison with healthy control groups (P less than 0.

Cytogenetic study of a cell line of human penile cancer.

A cell line of penile cancer from a 60-year-old Ugandan black patient has been studied by the authors. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed a large number of blebs and microvilli at cell surface; desmosomes were evident at TEM. Cytogenetic investigation (R-, C-, Nor-banding) showed the frequent presence of some markers: del(1p),del(1q),iso(3q),der(4),del(8p),11q+, t rob(13;14), 14p+, t rob(21;21).

Role of cytomegalovirus in Kaposi's sarcoma.

Previous studies have established an association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) and classic and endemic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) which can be extended to include the epidemic form of KS. The identification of nucleic acid sequences homologous to CMV but not to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) as well as the detection of CMV gene products, particularly early antigens, in tumour biopsies and/or early cultures derived from them is an important criterion in the establishment of the type of association. Detection of CMV early antigens but not late antigens as well as the failure to demonstrate virus particles in primary tumour biopsies rule out a simple passenger role of this virus or a preferential site for virus replication in neoplastic tissue.

Kaposi's sarcoma. IV. Detection of CMV DNA, CMV RNA and CMNA in tumor biopsies.

In order to determine whether human cytomegalovirus- (CMV) DNA homologous sequences as well as CMV-specific RNA(s) and antigen(s) exist in tumor biopsies of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) DNA-DNA reassociation, RNA-DNA in situ cytohybridization and anticomplement immunofluorescence test (ACIF) tests were applied. Three of 10 DNAs extracted from Kaposi sarcoma biopsies contained DNA sequences homologous to radioactively labelled human CMV DNA probe. The amount of CMV DNA in these sarcoma tissues was calculated to range from 0.