Molecular evaluation of human papillomavirus as an oncogenic biomarker in prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common tumors in men, regardless of ethnicity and demographics. In many risk factors causing PCa, genes and viral infections are strong candidates for the development of prostate tumors. Indeed, tissue infections of PCa have been reported by the presence of several types of viruses including Human Papillomaviruses (HPV).

Objective: the present study was planned to determine whether HPV DNA could be detected in the blood of known men with prostate cancer and to assess the potential association between HPV infection and clinico-pathological characteristics of the patients.

Materials And Methods: In order to achieve our objectives, 150 liquid blood samples were taken from Moroccan patients, 100 patients with PCa, and 50 control cases. The viral DNA was extracted, calibrated and the target genes were amplified by PCR using specific primers and the use of 2% agarose gel with visualization under UV.

Results: Of the 100 samples tested, (10%) were infected with HPV), However, none of the control cases were infected with HPV. The analysis of the data made it possible to establish a correlation between the frequency of the viral infection of the human papilloma and the tumoral criteria.

Conclusion: Therefore, this study strengthens the potential role of HPV as a cofactor in prostate cancer development, and we propose that infection with this virus may be involved in the development of PCa metastases.