Association of Human Papilloma Virus infection in healthy oral mucosa, oral dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Aims: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important risk factor for development of oral cancer; however, the integrational status of the virus into the host DNA association between HPV infection and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still uncertain has not been investigated to the same extent. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of consensus HPV, and HPV-16 and its integration status, in healthy oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), and OSCC samples.Materials and Methods: The study material consisted of 26 fresh, normal oral mucosa samples, and 53 and 27 paraffin-embedded OED and OSCC samples, respectively. The specimens were DNA extracted and investigated for the presence of HPV, and HPV-16 and its integration status, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing.Results: Thirty-eight (72%) of the 53 paraffin-embedded OED samples, 16 (59%) of the 27 OSCC samples, and 12 (46%) of the 26 control samples were found to be HPV-DNA positive, with nested PCR (NPCR). Further, HPV-16 was detected in 31 (82%), 15 (94%), and 0 (0%) HPV-positive OED cases, HPV-positive OSCC cases, and controls, respectively. Integration was observed in 26/31 (84%) and 13/15 (87%) of the HPV-16-positive OED and OSCC cases, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found comparing prevalence of HPV-16 in controls with that in both OED and OSCC samples (P<0.005). A statistically significant difference was also found comparing prevalence of integrated and episomal viral forms comparing OED and OSCC samples (P<0.005).Conclusion: The high prevalence of HPV and high-risk HPV-16 in OED and OSCC samples suggests a potential aetiologic role for the virus in OSCC.

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