Tobacco smoking and HPV infection

: Cervical cancer is one of the most common neoplasm in women in Poland. Etiopathogenesis of this neoplasm is mainly related to HPV infections. The persistent HPV infection is an important but not the only one sufficient factor in neoplastic transformation. The additional factors include tobacco smoking. Nowadays, prophylactic programs are conducted as cytologic screening, sexual education as well as decreased tobacco smoking. The aim of the present paper was the evaluation of correlation of number of smoked cigarettes and duration of smoking habit with histopathological changes uterine cervix. From 143 women operated due to gynecological problems there were selected 21 cases (medium age 44 years) with cervical cancer. In 5 women preoperative brachytherapy was done. E used immunohistochemical methods (with LSAB system) for evaluation of presence of L1 protein of HPV. The correlation between the stage of neoplasm and presence of viral protein was impossible as clinical records missed the information on tobacco smoking. In conclusion we would like to stress that evaluation of the possible role of proved and possible neoplastic factors needs a preparation of proper databases.