Combined Testing of p16 Tumour-suppressor Protein and Human Papillomavirus in Patients With Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

• Oral leukoplakia (OL) is a potentially malignant oral mucosal disorder. A casual association between OL, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been suggested, but no conclusive evidence has been presented. p16, a tumour-suppressor protein, is used as a surrogate marker for HPV infection. The aim of this study was to investigate how overexpression of p16 correlates with HPV infection in OL and in OSCC.Seventy-four patients with OL and 13 with OSCC with p16 overexpressed, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry visualizing p16 and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 52, 56, 58 and 59.Overexpression of p16 was observed in 18% of patients with OL. None of the HPV subtypes were detected by PCR analysis in patients with OL. In the p16-positive OSCC specimens, 38% were also HPV16-positive.Overexpression of p16 was not found to be a reliable biomarker for HPV infection in patients with OL and OSCC.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adult

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Carcinoma

Squamous Cell

metabolism

virology

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16

metabolism

DNA

Viral

analysis

Female

Humans

Leukoplakia

Oral

metabolism

virology

Male

Middle Aged

Mouth Neoplasms

metabolism

virology

Papillomaviridae

genetics

Papillomavirus Infections

metabolism

virology

Potentially malignant oral disorders

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)