Lack of Significant Effects of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection on Cervical Adenocarcinoma Risk: Nested Case-Control Study

PLoS One. 2016 May 26;11(5):e0156215. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156215. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Background: A role of Chlamydia trachomatis in HPV-induced cervical carcinogenesis has been reported for cervical cancer but studies on cervical adenocarcinoma are limited.

Methods: A total of 1,553 cervical smears taken up to 26 years before diagnosis in a large population-based nested case-control study of cervical adenocarcinoma (AC, 132 cases with matched controls), and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS, 159 cases with matched controls) were tested for C. trachomatis and HPV DNA by a type-specific PCR bead-based multiplex genotyping (TS-MPG) assay.

Results: Only 1.7% of samples were positive for C. trachomatis, with no significant differences between AC/AIS cases and controls. HPV-positivity was detected in 49.3% of C. trachomatis-negative and 65.4% C. trachomatis-positive samples, respectively.

Conclusions: A large prospective study did not find any risk for cervical adenocarcinoma and/or AIS conferred by C. trachomatis infection.

Impact: C. trachomatis appears not to be involved in cervical adenocarcinomas.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / microbiology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / virology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology*
  • Chlamydia Infections / pathology
  • Chlamydia Infections / virology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Papanicolaou Test
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prospective Studies
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology
  • Vaginal Smears
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Viral