The prevalence of human papillomavirus in oral premalignant lesions and squamous cell carcinoma in comparison to cervical lesions used as a positive control

Background Previous reports concerning the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have observed varied results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPV in oral premalignant lesions (OPL) and OSCC. For accurate HPV detection in oral lesions, comparative analysis was performed on cervical lesions as positive controls. Methods Fifty-seven cases with OPL and 50 with OSCC were selected. Twenty-nine control cases were selected from cervical lesions. The HPV infection rate was analysed by consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the My09/My11 and Gp5+/Gp6+ primers, and genotyping detection was employed using a PCR-based micro-array. Immunohistochemical staining for p16 INK4a was performed. Results Twenty-eight (96.6%) cases of cervical lesions were positive for HPV by consensus PCR and 24 cases (82.8%) were positive by genotyping. The total HPV-positive rate in cervical lesions was 96.6%. HPV-DNA was detected in nine cases (15.8%) of OPL and six cases (12.0%) of OSCC by consensus PCR. Six cases (10.5%) of OPL and three cases (6.0%) of OSCC were positive by genotyping. The total HPV-positive rate in oral lesions was 22.4% (26.3% of OPL and 18.0% of OSCC). In cervical lesions, immunohistochemistry of p16 INK4a identified 27 cases (93.1%) as positive. Fifteen cases (26.3%) of OPL and eight cases (16.0%) of OSCC were positive for p16 INK4a . Conclusions The HPV infection and p16 INK4a -positive rates in oral lesions are lower than previously reported. This suggests that HPV may not play a major role in oral lesions although its involvement cannot completely be ruled out.