HPV virus genotyping by RT-PCR method

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer of the female reproductive organs i.e., the third most common malignant tumor among women globally. The significance of HPV genotyping, a method used to identify specific HPV genotypes, has been recognized in recent decades as an important tool for the early detection of cervical cancer risk. In recent years, great progress has been made in understanding HPV molecular biology, a large number of tests have been developed, and there is ongoing research on the association between their diagnostic and therapeutic use. In the conducted research, a diagnostic kit manufactured by Sansure Biotech was used for HPV genotyping. This test comprises pairs of specific primers and specific fluorescent probes for genotyping 15 high-risk HPV genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68). Out of a total of 41 cervical swabs analyzed, 17 were detected positive for 13 specific high-risk HPV genotypes. HPV 18 and HPV 52 genotypes were not detected in any analyzed sample, while HPV 16 (14%) and HPV 31 (17%) were detected with the highest frequency of occurrence. Although the results were obtained on a small number of samples, they have certainly indicated the importance of the application of the mentioned method for detecting oncogenic HPV variants that suggest an increased risk of cervical cancer in women in HPV screening programs in the wider population.