Purpose: In view of the conflicting results reported in the literature, we assessed the involvement of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in the development of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Materials and Methods: A total of 58 bladder papillomatous proliferations was histologically examined and analyzed for the presence of HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences by Southern blot hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Typical features of condyloma acuminatum were observed in the bladder specimen of a patient with urethral condylomatosis. Of the specimens 57 had histological features of transitional cell carcinoma but no known signs of HPV infection. HPV-6 DNA was detected in the condylomatous tumor. However, no HPV DNA was detected in the 57 bladder cancers by Southern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions: These findings do not support an etiological role of HPV in the development of transitional cell bladder cancer.
