Distribution of human papilloma virus genotypes in cancerous lesions of cervix: Insights from a hospital-based study in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus is a primary contributor to the development of cervical precancerous lesions and cervical malignancy. Understanding the hrHPV genotype prevalence is essential for guiding vaccination and screening strategies. This study was done to determine the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes in women with histopathologically confirmed cervical cancer and precancerous cervical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Colposcopy Clinic in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between August 2022 and July 2024. A total of 300 women aged 25 years or older with histologically confirmed cervical lesions (125 with CIN and 175 with invasive cervical cancer) were enrolled. RESULTS: Among 175 invasive cervical cancer cases, 152 (86.9%) were hrHPV-positive. HPV-16 was the most common genotype, detected in 104 (68.4%) of hrHPV-positive cases as a single infection and 116 (76.3%) as a dominant type in multiple infections. Other notable genotypes included HPV-18 (4.6%), HPV-39 (3.3%), and HPV-35, 52, and 59 (each 2.6%). HPV types 45, 66, and 68 were among the less commonly identified high-risk genotypes, each accounting for 3 (2.0%) of cases. Multiple hrHPV infections were observed in 17.1% of cancer cases. Histologically, squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant subtype in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups. CONCLUSION: The predominance of HPV-16 underscores the need to expand national HPV vaccination and screening programs, using genotype-specific data to guide policies aligned with the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination strategy.