Genetic variants of HPV-16 and their geographical and anatomical distribution in men: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background: The prevalence of Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) variants in men and the association with tumor development has not been fully investigated. We estimated the prevalence of genital, anal, and oral HPV16 infections in men through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Seven databases were searched and included studies that identified HPV-16 positive males, HPV-16 variants (lineages/sublineages), and indicated the sample?s anatomical origin. This protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020178013). Results: The database searches yielded 14 studies including 445 HPV-16 positive samples classified as lineage A (n = 390), lineage D (n = 43), lineage B (n = 10), and lineage C (n = 2) variants. Lineage A variants predominated among the anatomical sites and the diverse geographical regions. Conclusions: HPV-16 lineages vary according to anatomical and geographical region. According to this preliminary evaluation of the current literature, we hypothesize that, similar to women, specific HPV-16 variants may also be associated to increased cancer risk in men.