[Detection of HPV16 E6 gene in cervical tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between the quantities of HPV16 E6 gene in cervical tissues and the course of cervical disease.

METHODS

The number of copies of HPV16 E6 gene was detected by competitive PCR in 44 positive samples including 20 cases of chronic cervicitis, 6 cases of cervical dysplasia and 18 cases of cervical cancer.

RESULTS

The mean copies of HPV16 E6 gene in chronic cervicitis, cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer were 6.16, 5.33, and 6.45 copies in each microgram of cervical tissue respectively. The quantities of HPV16 E6 gene were not significantly different between cervical dysplasia and chronic cervicitis (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the importance of the relationship between the quantities of HPV16 E6 gene and the course of cervical disease. It also suggests that quantification of HPV16 E6 gene may be useful as a prognostic tool to identify women who are at increased risk of developing cervical cancer.