detection of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 types in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients in yazd, iran: a case-control study

the aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of human papillomavirus (hpv) 16/18 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (oscc) and normal oral mucosa in iranian individuals with oscc and their association with various risk factors. the investigation followed a hospital-based case-control design. cases were individuals with diagnosed oscc, age- and sex-matched with controls. sixty-six paraffin embedded tissue samples (39 oscc and 27normal oral mucosa) were studied. dna was purified to amplify hpv-dna using hpv type specific primers-mediated polymerase chain reaction (pcr) method.mean age was 64.2 ±14 years in cases (range 25-81 years), and 63.5 ±13.5 years in controls (range 22-78 years). forty-three percent (17/39) of oscc but none of normal oral mucosa were positive for hpv 16/18 dna (p = 0.001). the most frequent type in patient group was hpv-16 type. the prevalence rate was high older in age (>50 years) and gender (male) and tongue tissue but no significant association was found (p=0.7, p=0.5 and p=0.42 respectively). we found a significant association of hpv16/18 with oral squamous cell carcinoma. also, hpv16/18 is a co-factor in oral carcinogenesis. in addition, also it is suggested that hpv is as a risk factor independent of alcohol and tobacco can be effective in creating oscc.