The gene libraries of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and laryngeal papilloma (LP) were screened by hybridization analysis with alpha-32P-labelled HPV-16 DNA under low stringency (Tm = 40 degrees C). It showed that the relative sequences were detected in LSCCs (11/16, 68.8%), but not in LP. The HPV-16-related DNA harbored in negative hybridization lesions were further analysed by polymerase chain reaction to amplify E6/E7 gene of HPV-16-related DNA. The results showed that 1/5 LSCCs and 2/2 LPs, were positive. The data suggest that development of LSCC should be related to the HPV infection, and HPV may be one of the inducers of LSCC.