Original Article The Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma IJMS Vol 37, No 2, June 2012 Sadat Noori1, Ahmad Monabati1,2, Abbasali Ghaderi3 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2Hematology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 3Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Correspondence: Sadat Noori MD, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Zand Avenue, Shiraz, Iran. Tel/Fax: +98 711 2349521 Email: noorisadat@yahoo.com Received: 13 August 2011 Revised: 29 September 2011 Accepted: 13 November 2011 126 Abstract Background: Carcinomas of esophagus, mostly squamous cell carcinomas, occur throughout the world. There are a number of suspected genetic or environmental etiologies. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is said to be a major etiology in areas with high incidence of esophageal carcinoma, while it is hardly detectable in low incidence regions. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases diagnosed in Pathology Department, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: DNA material for PCR amplification of HPV genome was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 92 cases of ESCC, diagnosed during 20 years from 1982 to 2002. Polymerase chain reaction was performed for amplification and detection of common HPV and type specific HPV-16 and HPV-18 genomic sequences in the presence of positive control (HPV-18 and HPV positive biopsies of uterine exocervix) and additional internal controls i.e. beta-globin and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4). Result: Good amplification of positive control and internal con- trols was observed. However, no amplification of HPV genome was observed. Conclusion: There is no association between HPV infection and the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the cases evaluated. Please cite this article as: Noori S, Monabati A, Ghaderi AA. The Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Iran J Med Sci. 2012;37(2):126-133. Keywords ● Squamous cell carcinoma ● esophagus ● human papilloma virus ● polymerase chain reaction Introduction Malignant esophageal tumors usually arise from epithelial layer of the esophagus. Worldwide, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) constitute 90% of esophageal cancers although in some regions such as United States their incidence is comparable to that of adenocarcinomas. While esophageal SCC (ESCC) occurs throughout the world, its incidence varies widely among countries and within regions of the same country. The region extending from northern Iran across central Asia to northern China exhibits annual incidence rate exceeding 100 per 100,000 with deaths from cancer of the esophagus constituting more than 20% of all cancer deaths. The death from cancer of the esophagus in this area constitutes more than 20% of all cancer deaths.1 Fars province in the south of Iran with an average annual Iran J Med Sci June 2012; Vol 37 No 2