Expressions of E6 and E7 proteins in HPV16 DNA-positive breast benign and malignant lesions

Aim:To investigate the expressions of human papillomavirus 16 type(HPV16) E6 and E7 proteins in HPV16 DNA-positive breast benign and malignant lesions.Methods:A total of 56 HPV16 DNA-positive breast carcinomatissue and 41 breast benign lesions confirmed by PCR were used to detect HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins using Western blotting assay.Results:In 56 HPV16 DNA-positive breast carcinoma tissue,the positive rates of HPV16 E6,E7,and E6/E7 co-expression were 67.9%(38/56),75.0%(42/56),and 57.1%(32/56),respectively,all higher than those of 36.6%(15/41),43.9%(18/41),and 24.4%(10/41),respectively,in 41 HPV16 DNA-positive breast benign lesions(χ2 was 9.34,9.70,10.34,respectively,P0.01).The HPV16 E6,E7,and E6/E7 co-expression were associated with lymph node metastasis of patients with breast carcinoma(χ2 was 3.88,15.86,9.34,respectively,P0.05),but not with age or histological classification(P0.05).Conclusion:HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression,and were associated with lymph node metastasis of breast carcinoma.