HUMAN PAPILOMAVIRUS INFECTION AND P16 INK4A HYPERMETHYLATION IN A CASE OF ESOPHAGEAL PAPILLOMATOSIS

Esophageal squamous cell papilloma (ESCP) is a prevalent lesion worldwide, with increasing occurrence rates. The possible role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of such lesions has aroused the interest on elucidating its natural history. In this report we studied an esophageal papilloma from a 27 year old female patient. HPV DNA was detected by generic PCR using MY09/11 primers and RFLP revealed the presence of HPV70, usually associated to benign genital lesions. Hypermethylation of p16 INK4A gene was also investigated, due to its relation to malignant transformation and a hypermethylation pattern was detected in the host gene. Except for recurrent dysphasia, risk factors were not recorded: cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, esophageal reflux or infected sexual partner. Since ESCP may have malignant potential, HPV detection and typing are useful tools in terms of follow-up. Besides that epigenetic events may represent additional risk for malignant transformation and thus can be a complementary biomarker. DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrr.v17i1-2.61