Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in cervical cancer in Stockholm, Sweden during 2019–2023 compared to 2003–2008

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of different HPV types, especially HPV16 and 18 in cervical cancer in patients diagnosed 2019–2023 in Stockholm was compared to corresponding data from 2003–2008 before the introduction of HPV vaccination in Sweden.

Material and Methods

Cervical cancer samples from 125 patients diagnosed 2019–2023 in Stockholm were analysed for 27 HPV types by multiplex assay and the HPV type prevalence data was compared to data obtained in 154 cervical samples from 2003–2008.

Results

Patient median age was higher 2019–2023 compared to 2003–2008 (55-years vs. 42-years, p = 0.046). Overall HPV prevalence was 93.6%, HPV16 and 18 accounted for 62.2% of all squamous cell carcinoma cases (SCC) and 63.6% of all adenocarcinoma cases (ADC) vs. 92.9%, 69.7% and 88.6% respectively 2003–2008.

Conclusion

The joint prevalence of HPV16 and 18 in SCC and ADC tended to be slightly lower in 2019–2023 as compared to 2003–2008, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords:

• Cancer of the cervix uteri
• HPV types
• HPV vaccination

Acknowledgements

The Swedish Cancer Society, The Swedish Medical Research Council, The Stockholm Cancer Society, The Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation supported ET (TJ2021–0125), SH (TJ2022–0067), the Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm City Council FoUI-973659 and 909106, and ALF-510459 and 520795 are greatly acknowledged for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data supporting this study are included within the article and in reference [12].

Additional information

Funding

The Swedish Cancer Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, the Stockholm Cancer Society, the Stockholm City Council and the Karolinska Institute.