Retrospective analysis of alpha-human papillomavirus (HPV) types in tissue samples from anogenital dysplasias - introduction of the RICH (Risk of HPV-related Carcinoma in HIV+/- patients) score

Background Chronic viral infections caused by highly contagious human papillomaviruses (HPVs) from the alpha genus are a substantial risk factor for tumour diseases. Objectives The goal of this study was to compare the HPV infection pattern with histology in a patient group of immunocompromised HIV+ and non-immunocompromised patients with anal intraepithelial neoplasia. Materials and Methods Tissue samples (n = 210) from the anogenital area of 121 patients underwent retrospective histological and molecular examination for HPV DNA prevalence by chip analysis. The study was part of a cancer screening from the Dermatology Department of the LMU Munich, Germany. All data were collected and processed anonymously. Results HPV 6 or 11 are more abundant in tissue samples from histologically diagnosed condylomata acuminata (47.7%) compared to grade 1, 2, and 3 intraepithelial neoplasias (IN 1-3). Detection of high-risk (hr) alpha-HPV DNA was significantly higher in tissue samples from IN 3 (67.5%) compared to IN 1 and 2 (12.9%), and compared to condylomata acuminata (29.5%). No HPV types were detected in histologically unremarkable tissue samples. There was a significant association between the prevalence of HPV 16 and the classifications IN 1 to IN 3 (chi(2) (2) = 13.62, P = 0.001). We identified a significant correlation between the prevalence of high-risk and low-risk (lr) HPV types and HIV, especially mixed infections of different HPV types correlated with high-grade IN. Based on the present data, we suggest the risk of carcinoma in HIV+/- patients (RICH) score and test it in the 121 patients. Conclusions hr alpha-HPVs, mainly HPV 16, are associated with increased oncogenic potential of premalignant lesions (IN 1-3), especially in HIV+ patients. Based on the combination of HIV/HPV-testing and histological analysis, we identified correlations that could potentially forecast the risk of malignant transformation and summarized them in the form of RICH score.