K-ras mutations and HPV infection in cervicitis and intraepithelial neoplasias of the cervix.

Activation of ras genes and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection have been extensively described in cervical carcinomas while information concerning their implication in premalignant lesions of the cervix is limited. We investigated the incidence of K-ras codon 12 point mutations and HPV infection in cases of cervicitis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN). Forty-seven cases of women with cervicitis or CIN were examined for the presence of K-ras mutations and HPV infection using PCR-RFLP methodology. Furthermore, HPV typing was carried out in HPV positive samples by multiplex PCR. K-ras mutations were detected in 7/47 cases (15%) while HPV genome was found in 17/47 cases (36%). HPV typing revealed HPV-18 at a higher rate than HPV-16 (71% vs 29%). No statistically significant association was observed between the presence of K-ras mutations, HPV infection and clinical parameters or smoking-alcohol habits. Our results suggest that mutational activation of K-ras gene is implicated in the development of premalignant cervical lesions and HPV infection may be an important step in the development of premalignant cervical lesions.