Human Papillomavirus Infection and Risk Determinants for Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion and Cervical Cancer in Japan

A case control design was used to investigate human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and risk factors associated with development of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and cervical cancer (CC) in Japan, One hundred and twenty‐three women with histologically confirmed SIL or CC were compared to a control group of 778 cytologically normal women. With the use of a polymerase chain reaction (FCR)‐hased method for detection of low‐risk (types 6 and 11) and high‐risk (types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 52 and 58) HPVs, a high prevalence of HPV infection was observed in smokers among the controls. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that high‐risk HPV infection was the most significant risk determinant for LSIL (OR=9.4, 95% CI=4.5–19), HSIL (OR=77, 95% CI=28–217) and CC (OR=97, 95% CI=35–269). It also showed that unmarried women, women married for 5 to 19 years and smokers represented high risk groups for SIL, while smokers and women with a history of many pregnancies/parities had increased risk for CC. Smoking was the only HPV infection‐independent factor for CC, suggesting that smoking may have a carcinogenic effect on the cervix. Since neither history of other cancer nor family cancer history was associated with SIL or CC, genetic factors appear to play little role in cervical carcinogenesis. The risk for cervical neoplasia due to HPV infection increased after marriage in Japan, suggesting a role for husbands as carriers of HPV transmission. Protection from high‐risk HPV infection may be of greatest importance for prevention of cervical cancer.