Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in genital warts, cervical dysplasias and neoplasias.

Biopsies from human genital lesions in Japan (108 samples), including condyloma acuminata, squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, and cervical cancer, were screened for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 6-, 11-, 16-, and 18-related DNAs by spot hybridization and Southern blot hybridization under stringent conditions. By spot hybridization, HPV 6/11-related DNA was found in 92.9% (13/14) of condyloma acuminata and in 6.7% (1/15) of cervical cancer biopsies. HPV 16/18-related DNA was found in 37.7% (5/14) of cervical cancer biopsies and was exclusively associated with invasive squamous cell cancer, 66.7% (8/12), and with cervical carcinoma in situ, 50% (9/18). Some sample DNAs were further characterized by restriction enzyme digestion followed by Southern blot analysis, and we confirmed the presence of HPV-specific DNA fragments and mixed infection with both HPV 6/11- and HPV 16/18-related HPVs in one lesion.