Background:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)infection, is a major risk factor for the development
of cervical cancer worldwide, particularly HPV-16.A strong association has been
shown between viral load of human HPV-16 and the progress of cervical lesions.
However, little data is available for the significance of viral load in
prognostic of cervical cancer.
Aim:
In this study,we demonstrated relationship between viral load of HPV 16infection and cervical cancer,and its potential clinical significance as a prognostic factor.
Methods:
Two hundred-ten human papillomavirus 16-positive patients who underwent radical
hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for FIGO stage IA2-IIA cervical cancer
were recruited in this study.Viral load measurements of HPV16 were identified
by qRT-PCR.The association of viral load with clinicopathologic characteristics
and overall survivals were analyzed.
Results:
Viral load measurements of HPV-16 were detected in all of 210 evaluable cases,
and the results of correlation analysis indicated that HPV16 viral load was
significant related with cervical cancer patients age (P= 0.013), FIGO stage
(P =0.024),and lymph node metastasis (P=0.041).Univariate analysis showed that
the patient's age, viral load of HPV-16, FIGO stage, histological grade, lymph
node metastasis were the poor factors for overall survival time (P <0.05).
Kaplan-meier survival analysis showed that the overall 5-year survival rates of
the viral copy number range 107-109,105-106,103-104 of HPV16 were 34.4%, 48.0%
and 87.1%, respectively (P <0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that lymph
node metastasis (OR=9.617; 95% CI 1.598-7.719; p=0.002) , viral load of HPV-16
(OR=12.403; 95% CI 1.628-5.535; p=0.001) are independent prognostic factors.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that viral load of HPV-16 is an independent reliable
prognostic factor of early-stage cervical cancer.