Human papillomavirus DNA and P16(INK4A) expression in concurrent esophageal and gastric cardia cancers.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and concurrent esophagus and gastric cardia cancer from the same patient (CC) and examine the significance of P16(INK4A) protein expression.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of HPV type16 (HPV16). The expression of P16(INK4A) protein was detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Among the CC specimens, HPV16-DNA was found in eight cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and five cases of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), respectively (47% vs 29%), and two of both ESCC and GCA. P16(INK4A) was highly expressed in both ESCC and GCA. In the HPV-associated positive CC, higher P16(INK4A) expression was observed in the GCA than in the ESCC (75% vs 25%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HPV16 as a correlated risk factor may play an important role in the development of ESCC and GCA. P16(INK4A) may be a screening index in the HPV-associated carcinoma of gastric cardia.