Human papillomavirus (HPV) and p16 INK4a expression in early-onset prostate cancer.
HPV-DNA detected in over a quarter of early-onset prostate cancer specimens
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and p16 INK4a expression in early-onset prostate cancer.
To investigate the potential role of human papillomavirus (human papillomavirus) in early onset prostate cancer (prostate cancer) through human papillomavirus-DNA detection and genotyping, and immunohistochemical evaluation of p16 INK4a expression.
With a familial history of prostate cancer, incomplete medical records, immunodeficiency, or insufficient tissue for molecular analysis were excluded.
Multiple human papillomavirus genotypes were identified in three cases (6.7%). p16 INK4a immunopositivity was observed in 91.7% of human papillomavirus-positive tumors compared with 69.7% of human papillomavirus-negative tumors (p = 0.240).
Human papillomavirus-positive patients showed higher ISUP grades than human papillomavirus-negative patients (p = 0.029) and were more likely to be in intermediate or high-risk groups (p = 0.028).
No significant differences were observed in PSA levels or Gleason scores.
The detection of human papillomavirus-DNA in a considerable proportion of early onset prostate cancer specimens, together with the more frequent but not statistically significant p16 INK4a positivity in human papillomavirus-positive tumors, suggests a possible association with prostate tumor biology.
However, the presence of low-risk human papillomavirus genotypes and the non-specific nature of p16 INK4a expression complicate the interpretation of a direct oncogenic role.