gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Persistant infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) of the uterine cervix is related with cytological atypia (SIL), the oncogenic potential of which is unclear in a given time point of monitoring. HPV-induced genetic instability result in polyploidization as well as in low frequency random chromosome aberrations in squamous cells. Cancer cells of cervix and vulva frequently contain multiple copies of various chomosomes such as chromosome 3. It was recently show, that cervical intraepithelial neoplasias also contain frequently amplifications of some parts of chromosome 3 containing the region of the telomerase gene. Sincepathogenesis of cervical, vaginal and vulva cancer appears to be closely related, similar genetic changes as observed in cervical lesion may also occur in vulva leasions as well.

Material and Methods:Tissue of cervical (CIN III) and vulva lesions (VIN III) were analyzed using FISH technology in order to detect amplifications of chromosome 3 and chromosome17.

Results: In cervical lesions chromosome 3 amplifications were detected in most tissue samples analyzed. Moreover, in high grade vulva lesion chromosome 3 amplifications could also be detected but not amplification of the chromosome 17 control.

Conclusion: Highly polyploid/aneuploid cells in HSIL accumulate cytogenetic aberrations detectable by FISH analysis. These cells may reflect early changes with tumorigenic potential in a very concentrated fashion. Our results indicate similar genetic changes in cervical and vulva lesions.