High-risk human papillomavirus detection and integration in preneoplastic lesions among women in Southern Chile: a cross-sectional study

Background: High -risk Human Papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the etiological agents of cervical cancer and its preneoplastic lesions. HPV16 and 18 are the most frequent HR-HPV genotypes detected in cervical cancer. HR-HPV genome integration into the host cell is an important event in the carcinogenic process. However, it remains uncertain which stage of cervical carcinogenesis HPV16 and 18 integration occurs in the Chilean population. Aim : The goal of this study was to evaluate HPV16 and HPV18 integration in preneoplastic lesions of the cervix. Methods : DNA was extracted from 108 cervical scrape samples with preneoplastic lesions. HPV was genotyped using PCR and non -radioactive hybridization. The integration status of HPV16 and HPV18 was determined by evaluating the E2 gene presence through PCR. Results : HPV16 and HPV18 tested positive in 36.1% and 12.0% of samples, respectively. HPV16 was found integrated in 23.1% of HPV 16 cases, while HPV 18 in 100% of samples positive for this viral genotype. Conclusions : HR-HPV integration is an early event in cervical carcinogenesis, occurring in nearly half of preneoplastic lesions and being more frequent in HPV18 than in HPV16. The evaluation of HR-HPV integration can be utilized as a complementary tool for detecting HPV in the Chilean population.