Ten cases of cervical dysplasia, 13 cases of carcinoma in situ, nine cases of invasive carcinoma, and six cases of normal tissue were investigated for the presence of papillomavirus group-specific antigens and for viral DNA. Viral proteins were identified with genus-specific papillomavirus antibodies. Cloned HPV 6, 11, and 16 DNA labeled with 3H were used for in situ hybridization followed by autoradiographic detection of hybridized probes. In cervical dysplasias, five of ten samples were positive for HPV antigens, two of four cases contained HPV DNA related to type 16, and nine of thirteen cases of carcinoma in situ showed the presence of HPV antigens. In five of seven lesions of carcinoma in situ, HPV DNA was detected (HPV 6 three cases, HPV 16 two cases). For invasive carcinomas, HPV antigens were not observed in four cases. In the other five cases investigated, HPV antibodies were reactive with few keratinocytes located either at the surface or in keratinized tumour zones. HPV DNA related to type 6 was seen in three of six cases. Six cases of normal cervical mucosa served as controls. In these cases, HPV antigens (five samples) or HPV DNA (one specimen) were not detected. The study underlines the value of recombinant DNA techniques for screening of HPV infections in cervical cancer and precancer; 50-70% of cervical lesions contained HPV-related DNA. These data were comparable to the percentage of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma in situ positive for HPV antigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
