Modulation of human papillomavirus type 16 mRNA in cervical invasive carcinoma patients by interferon-alpha therapy

Mechanisms by which interferon produces papilloma regression remain largely unknown, We analyzed biopsies from three cervical invasive carcinoma patients treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) administered both topically and i.m. for 15 days, All specimens contained human papillomavirus (HPV-16) DNA as determined by polymerase chain reaction using specific HPV-16 E7 primers, Interestingly, in two patients, HPV-16 mRNA expression was reduced (44% and 67%, respectively) after IFN treatment, Upregulation of 2-5 A synthetase and PKR mRNA levels were indicative of the IFN effect, A larger study should be initiated to see whether IFN-alpha modulates the HPV-16 mRNA levels in tumor biopsies from cervical carcinoma patients.