Alteration of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Genetic and Epigenetic Profiles in Cervical Cancer Patients Is Indicative of Poor Disease Prognosis: A Cohort Analysis.

Objective Aim of this study was to assess the changes in genetic and epigenetic profiles of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), if any, in primary cervical cancer (CaCx) and corresponding plasma before and after therapy for possible prognostic evaluation. Methods The genetic (integration status) and epigenetic (methylation of enhancer, early promoter, and late promoter sequences) profiles of HPV16 were analyzed in pretherapy CaCx (n = 46), corresponding plasma, posttherapy cervical swabs (n = 39), and corresponding plasma from a single patient cohort. Quantitative viral load was also measured in these HPV16-positive primary CaCx and posttherapy cervical swabs. Results Presence of HPV16 in the patients’ plasma before/after therapy was significantly ( P = 0.03) associated with higher viral load in the primary tumor site. Human papillomavirus type 16 integration and hypomethylation of the early (14 of 29, Z = 4.47, P Z = 3.74, P Z = 2.6, P Z = 2.0, P Z = 4.4, P Conclusions The genetic-epigenetic profile of HPV16 in pretherapy/posttherapy CaCx samples showed significant association with disease prognosis.