Herpes simplex virus type 2 and Chlamydia trachomatis in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

Introduction. Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix (AC) occurs in 15-20% of primary cervical neoplasias. Although some etiologic factors for squamous cell carcinoma are well defined, and its relationship with sexually transmitted disease as human papillomavirus (HPV) is established, we still do not know about the causative factors of most of AC besides HPV infection. Objectives. To determine the presence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) DNA in AC specimens, and its correlation with HPV infection. Methods. 206 paraffin-embedded cases of AC were selected to DNA extraction. The specimens and the DNA were isolated. Samples were first screened for beta-globin DNA sequences, and 67 cases were considered adequate to further analysis. In a previous analysis, DNA of HPV was identified in 79.4% of specimens included in this series (51% HPV 18 and 34% HPV 16). The local ethical committee approved the study. Results. All samples were negative for HSV-2 DNA and CT DNA. Conclusions. In our series HSV-2 DNA and CT DNA were not found to be integrated to the genome of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and do not seem to be a co-factor for HPV on the etiology of this histologic subtype. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.