Human papillomavirus infection and alterations of p53 in esophageal cancer

We detected human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in 29% (22/77) of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by ISH (in situ hybridization) in Kochi Medical School, and also found similar incidence of infection at some other places in Japan. p53 protein overexpression was found in 49% (38/77) of esophageal SCC by immunohistochemistry (IHC), p53 gene mutation was also found; in 63% (15/24) of fresh tumor samples, Some cases were found to be simultaneously positive with both HPV infection and p53 protein overexpression or gene mutation. These data indicate that HPV infection and p53 alterations are frequently detected and involved in the carcinogenesis of esophageal SCC to play collaborative roles each other.