High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Patients with Oral Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Serbia—A Pilot Study
<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for about 95% of oral cancers. It represents a serious public health problem due to the high degree of morbidity and mortality, as well as multifactorial etiology. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a wel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/10/1843 |
| Summary: | <i>Background and Objectives:</i> Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for about 95% of oral cancers. It represents a serious public health problem due to the high degree of morbidity and mortality, as well as multifactorial etiology. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-documented risk factor for oropharyngeal carcinoma, but its role in oral carcinogenesis is still debatable. Our aim was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes (HR-HPV) in patients with OSCC and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) from that of healthy subjects. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A total of 90 subjects were included in the cross-sectional study and divided into three groups of 30 patients each: (1) patients with OSCC, (2) patients with OPMD, and (3) healthy subjects. We examined the presence of 12 HR-HPV genotypes in the obtained biological material (oral swabs) using real-time PCR. <i>Results:</i> One or more of the 12 tested HR-HPV genotypes were detected in 5/30 patients with OSCC and 2/30 with OPMD, whereas no healthy subjects were positive for any of the tested genotypes. There was a statistically significant difference in nodal involvement between HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients with OSCC. <i>Conclusions:</i> Oral HR-HPV was detected in patients with oral premalignant and malignant lesions but not in healthy individuals, suggesting a possible role in oral carcinogenesis. Broad HR-HPV panel testing could increase the sensitivity of risk assessment and screening for OSCC. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |