Lack of Association between Chlamydia trachomatis Infection and Cervical Cancer - Taq Man Realtime PCR Assay Findings

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in developing countries and the second most common type of cancer in women globally. Several recent studies suggested a co factor role for Chlamydia trachomatis in pathogenesis of cervical cancer. This study aimed to evaluate existence of C. trachomatis DNA in pathologic blocks of patients with cervical cancer. Materials and methods: Seventy-six formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue specimens from patients with histologically proven history of cervical cancer as well as 150 blocks from healthy peoples were included in the present study. Thin slices were prepared from selected blocks followed by deparaffinization and DNA extraction; the presence of C. trachomatis DNA was examined by Taq Man real-time PCR. Results: Our TaqMan real time PCR assay with cervical specimens of patients with cervical cancer showed that there was no C. trachomatis DNA. Also, we found three positive specimens among our control group. Conclusion: It seems that based on results obtained from the specimens examined in the present study, there is no association between the presence of C. trachomatis DNA in cervical specimens and cervical cancer.