Genotypic determination by PCR-RFLP of human papillomavirus in normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma samples in Madrid (Spain).

Background: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), especially genotypes 16 and 18, are considered to be human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). They are the most important etiological agents of uterine cervix cancer but their true role in oral carcinogenesis is controversial.

Objectives: To detect the presence of HPV genome genotypes in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze their relationship with clinicopathological variables.

Materials And Methods: Presence of genome ofHPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 39, 42, 45, and 52 was studied by polymerase chain reaction in samples of normal mucosa (30 controls), oral leukoplakia (35 cases) and OSCC (33 cases). Results were compared between groups and differences were examined in relation to clinical and histological variables.

Results: HPV genome was detected in 23.3% of controls, 45.7% of oral leukoplakias, and 39.4% of OSCCs. Only HPV-16 was significantly (p=0.0005) more frequently detected in leukoplakias (40%) and OSCCs (33.3%) versus controls (0%). No significant relationship was found between the presence of viral genome and the main clinicopathological variables.

Conclusion: According to these findings, the presence of HPV-16 is significantly associated with oral leukoplakia and OSCC lesions, therefore in our setting this virus may be a carcinogenic element in this disease.