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Abstract
A single tube nested 'hanging droplet' PCR was developed for detection of cutaneous
human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA of the phylogenetic group B1. The nested PCR was compared
with a single round PCR method by testing 56 fresh biopsies from Australian skin tumour
patients. HPV DNA was detected in 64% (36/56) of the biopsies by nested PCR and in
30% (17/56) by single round PCR (P<0.001). HPV DNA was more often detected by nested
PCR than by single round PCR in basal cell carcinoma [62% (16/26) vs. 19%; (5/26);
P=0.003], squamous cell carcinoma [43% (7/16) vs. 25% (4/16)] and in solar keratosis
[93% (13/14) vs. 57% (8/14); P=0.038]. The nested PCR and the single round PCR system
detected 26 and 11 different HPV types/putative types/subtypes, respectively. Multiple
types were found in eight samples by the nested PCR and two samples by single round
PCR. The nested HPV PCR is more sensitive and capable of amplifying a broad spectrum
of HPV types from skin tumours, but further improvements are needed before all HPV
infections in skin can be detected by a single assay.