Abstract:Objective To investigate the roles of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in condyloma acuminatum and to study the relationships between XIAP and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) subtypes. Methods The immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of XIAP in condyloma acuminatum and healthy prepuce tissues. HPV genotypes were detected by PCR and gene chip in all condyloma acuminatum tissues. Results The expression rate of XIAP was gradually increased from normal prepuce, nonrecurrent condyloma acuminatum to recurrent condyloma acuminatum tissues (26.67%, 53.49% and 79.31% respectively) with significant differences (P < 0.05). Futhermore, the XIAP expression level in the high-risk HPV group was higher than that in the normal prepuce (66.67% vs. 26.67%, P < 0.05); however, it was similar between the high-risk and low-risk HPV groups as well as low-risk HPV group and normal prepuce (P > 0.05). The positive expression rate of XIAP was statistically different between the patients with different disease courses and recurrent times (P < 0.05), but not between those groups with different sex and age (P > 0.05). Conclusions Elevated expression of XIAP may play an important role in the pathogenesis and recurrence of condyloma acuminatum. It may promote the malignant transformation of condyloma acuminatum, and serve as an effective and objective marker in detection and mornitoring of condyloma acuminatum.