[Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical cancer tissue by PCR and direct sequencing].

Objective: To explore an effective method for detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical cancer tissue.

Methods: HPV L1 gene fragment in cervical cancer tissue was amplified by HPV-specific PCR with consensus primers, and typing of the HPV strains was performed on the basis of sequence analysis of the PCR product.

Results: The positivity rates of HPV DNA was 78% in the 50 cases of cervical cancer, and mixed infection with HPV16 and HPV18 strains was the most common, which accounted for 48% on the total infections. Infection with HPV58 was detected in one case. The sequencing results showed no difference in L1 sequence between the detected samples and the standard German HPV58 strain.

Conclusion: PCR and direct sequencing approach is effective for detecting and typing of HPV DNA in cervical cancer tissue, through which rare HPV strain or mutants of known HPV strains may not escape detection.