Epstein-Barr virus detection in invasive and pre-invasive lesions of the uterine cervix

In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether EBV DNA could be found in association with invasive and pre-invasive cervical cancer lesions. We hypothesize that EBV is not merely a commensal agent when present in malignant cervical lesions. DNA was extracted from cervical scrapings followed by nested PCR-based amplification. the patients were 66 women with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 14 women with invasive cervical cancer. the control group consisted of 89 women with a normal Pap smear and colposcopy as well as a negative HPV DNA test. Analysis of our results, in conjunction with the work of other authors, leads us to propose that EBV is not merely a commensal agent when present in malignant cervical lesions. the presence of DNA from EBV is significantly associated with cervical cancer.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Univ São Paulo, Dept Urol, Urol Lab LIM55, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Gynecol, Colposcopy Sect, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Gynecol Lab, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Gynecol, Colposcopy Sect, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Gynecol Lab, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 99/03366-6Web of Scienc