Human papillomavirus in oral squamous cells carcinoma in a population of 75 Brazilian patients

Soares, Rosilene Calazans; Oliveira, Márcio C.; Souza, Lélia B.; Costa, Antônio L.; Medeiros, Sílvia Regina B.; Pinto, Leão P.

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2006.11.012

« Previous Next »American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 28, Issue 6 , Pages 397-400, November 2007

Human papillomavirus in oral squamous cells carcinoma in a population of 75 Brazilian patients

Rosilene Calazans Soares, PhD
- Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
Márcio C. Oliveira, PhD
- Department of Oral Pathology, Estadual University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
Lélia B. Souza, PhD
- Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Antônio L. Costa, PhD
- Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Sílvia Regina B. Medeiros, PhD
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Leão P. Pinto, PhD
- Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 1787, Lagoa Nova-RN, CEP 59056-000, Brazil. Tel.: +55 84 3215 4108 (business), +55 84 3208 1815 (home); fax: +55 84 3215 4138.

Received 5 October 2006

Abstract

Purpose

In the present study, we investigated the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and viral types in 75 cases of oral squamous cells carcinoma from Brazil to obtain data that would contribute to a better understanding of the role of HPV in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Materials and methods

DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue and amplified by polymerase chain reaction using a pair of primers designated PCO3+ and PCO4+ for the detection of a fragment of the human β-globin gene, followed by polymerase chain reaction for the detection of HPV DNA using a pair of generic primers, GP5+ and GP6+. Viral typing was performed by dot blot hybridization.

Results

Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 18 (24%) of the 75 cases positive for the human β-globin gene. No significant association was observed between HPV and age, sex, or anatomical location of the tumor. The most prevalent viral type was HPV-18 (77,8%).

Conclusion

The low frequency of detection of HPV DNA in oral epidermoid carcinomas suggests a possible participation of the virus in the development and progression of only a subgroup of these tumors.