Abstract
Objectives:The main objectives of this study were to investigate the detection rate of high-risk human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (high-risk HPV16/18) in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) including oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP) in a Thai population and their associations with demographic, risk habits, and clinicopathologic features. Methods:Paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed specimens from 101 OL and 59 OLP patients with patients’ demographic, risk habits, and clinicopathologic data were collected. Conventional qualitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect high-risk HPV16/18 DNA. Associations between high-risk HPV type 16/18 and demographic, clinicopathologic, risk factors (tobacco and alcohol uses) of OPMDs were analysed by Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. The results with p value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results:HPV16/18 DNA was found in both OL and OLP groups with the detection rate of 19.8% and 18.6%, respectively. Approximately 90% of high-risk HPV were HPV18 subtype. Additionally, in OL group, high-risk HPV was found more frequently in patients with moderate/severe dysplasia than that in mild dysplasia. Interestingly, in OLP group, high-risk HPV was only detected in atrophic/ulcerative subtypes. None of risk factors was associated with high-risk HPV. Conclusions:Approximately 19% of OPMDs were HPV16/18-positive. HPV18 DNA was predominantly detected in both OL and OLP patients (90%). Additionally, the detection rate of high-risk HPV was higher in more severe dysplastic cases of OL and more clinically severe cases of OLP.
Highlights
Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a group of oral soft tissue lesions that have the potential to transform into malignant lesions, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (Warnakulasuriya, 2018)
The detection rates of high-risk HPV were found at 19.8% and 18.6% in oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP) groups, respectively
We found a relatively high detection rate of high-risk HPV in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs): OL and OLP at 19.8% and 18.6%, respectively
Summary
Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are a group of oral soft tissue lesions that have the potential to transform into malignant lesions, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (Warnakulasuriya, 2018). HPV is a small circular DNA virus, consisting of three genome regions: early region (E), late region (L), and long control region (LCR). Based on their oncogenic properties, HPVs are divided into two groups: high-risk HPVs and low-risk HPVs (de Villiers et al, 2004). The most common high-risk HPV in oral mucosa is HPV16 (Prabhu and Wilson, 2013). HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 interrupt host’s cell cycle regulation by E6 oncoprotein abrogates apoptotic regulating proteins, including p53, bak, and procaspase, while E7 oncoprotein interrupts cell cycle regulating protein, pRb. As a result, the infected cells with high-risk HPVs can evade apoptosis and become actively proliferating (Prabhu and Wilson, 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call