HPV detection in floor of mouth squamous cell carcinoma by PCR amplification

Luciana E Simonato,Glauco I Miyahara,José Fernando Garcia,Luiz Alberto Veronese,Saygo Tomo

doi:10.5935/1676-2444.20160005

Abstract

Introduction: Studies conducted during the last years, using new technologies for viral detection, permit to consider human papillomavirus (HPV) an etiologic factor for cervical cancer. Besides the relation to genital regions, other anatomic sites have been associated with HPV, including head and neck regions. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of HPV infection in 35 samples from paraffin-embedded tissues using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification, and correlate it with demographic, clinical, and morphological factors and prognosis. Materials and methods: All samples were first amplified with human β-globin gene primers. Samples with positive amplification were subjected to HPV-DNA detection with general GP5 and GP6 primers. Results Only 30 samples were amplified for the β-globin gene. No floor of mouth squamous cell carcinoma cases showed amplification of HPV DNA. Discussion: The absence of HPV-DNA amplification does not suggest that this virus is absent from the process of oral carcinogenesis, since the selected sample is not in the risk group for the development of oral cancer associated with HPV infection. Conclusions: No correlation was found between HPV infection and floor of mouth carcinogenesis, however further studies are necessary.

Highlights

Studies conducted during the last years, using new technologies for viral detection, permit to consider human papillomavirus (HPV) an etiologic factor for cervical cancer
The absence of HPV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification does not suggest that this virus is absent from the process of oral carcinogenesis, since the selected sample is not in the risk group for the development of oral cancer associated with HPV infection
The relationship between cervical cancer and HPV infection is well established, the real role of this virus in oral carcinogenesis remains controversial, once, despite several studies have demonstrated the presence of the HPV in oral Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (OSCC), in most cases of HPVrelated OSCC, patients are exposed to etiologic factors that are strongly associated with oral carcinogenesis[6, 27]

Summary

Introduction

Studies conducted during the last years, using new technologies for viral detection, permit to consider human papillomavirus (HPV) an etiologic factor for cervical cancer. No floor of mouth squamous cell carcinoma cases showed amplification of HPV DNA. Discussion: The absence of HPV-DNA amplification does not suggest that this virus is absent from the process of oral carcinogenesis, since the selected sample is not in the risk group for the development of oral cancer associated with HPV infection. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which develops from epithelial cells, represents the most common neoplastic process in the mouth, being responsible for nearly 90% of all malignancies of the oral cavity[4]. Other factors might be associated with the development of oral and oropharyngeal malignancies; among them, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus and human papillomavirus (HPV) have been indicated as probable oncogenic agents[8, 9]

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Conclusion