Epidemiologic Determinants of Seroreactivity to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Type 16 Virus-Like Particles in Cervical HPV-16 DNA--Positive and --Negative Women

Abstract

The epidemiologic determinants of seroreactivity to human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 L1/L2 virus-like particles (VLPs) were assessed separately in HPV-16 DNA–positive and –negative women participating in a nested case-control study of incident cervical neoplasia. Seventy-four women with cervical HPV-16 DNA and 656 cytologically normal HPV-16 DNA–negative subjects were interviewed and tested at two time points for viral DNA and once (at the later time) for VLP seroreactivity. Among subjects who were currently HPV-16 DNA–negative, seroreactivity odds ratios increased from 2.9 for 2–5 male sex partners (vs. 0 or 1) to 5.4 for 6–9 partners and 14.0 for ⩾10. Thus, prior cervical infection may be a major determinant of seroreactivity in HPV-16 DNA–negative women. This trend was not observed in HPV-16 DNA-positive subjects. Seroreactivity was independently associated with oral contraceptive use, particularly in HPV-16 DNA–negative subjects with use for ⩾10 years. Consequently, a possible role for virus–steroid hormone interactions in seroconversion is suggested.