Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA and E6/E7 mRNA from HPV Genotypes 16, 18, 31 and 33 in Histologically Confirmed Cases of Cervical Cancer and Precancerous Lesions in Burkina Faso

Introduction: Cervical cancer, caused by persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, remains a global public health problem. The cellular transformation and maintenance of the malignant phenotype of these HPVs are attributed to the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7. Objective: This study aims to detect the presence of human papillomavirus DNA and E6/E7 oncoprotein mRNA of HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31 and 33 in cases of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, histologically confirmed in Burkina Faso. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study focused on cases of cervical cancer and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and was conducted from June to December 2022. One hundred (100) samples of fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues were collected from the pathological anatomy and cytology laboratories of hospitals in the capital of Burkina Faso. High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA was detected using multiplex real-time PCR, while the presence of E6 and E7 mRNA in cervical cancer and high-grade CIN samples was determined using real-time Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) with TaqMan probes. Results: The mean age of women diagnosed with cervical cancer and high-grade CIN was 50.81 ± 13.65 years, ranging from 22 to 82 years. Cervical cancer and high-grade CIN were positive for at least one high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in 80% of cases. The most prevalent genotypes observed were HPV16, 18, 31, and 33, collectively accounting for 70.08% of cases. Of the 89 samples that tested positive for HR-HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, and 33, 88 (98.88%; 95% CI: [94.58 - 99.94]) were also positive for the presence of mRNA encoding the E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV16, 18, 31, and 33. Conclusion: In the presence of HPV DNA, testing for E6 and E7 oncoprotein mRNA could serve as a promising biomarker and valuable tool for improved assessment of the progression to cervical cancer.