Detection of EBV and HPV in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Ameloblastoma: Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Study

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancer includes several malignancies that originate in the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, salivary glands, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The burden of viral infections in cancer is high but underappreciated by much of the cancer research community. Human papilloma virus infection has been postulated to be somehow involved in ameloblastoma etiopathogenesis. Some sudies suggest an association between the presence of viral DNA and aggressive of certain cancers the purpose of this study was to examine the association between HPV and EBV with oral squamous cell carcinoma and ameloblastoma assessed by detection of their DNA in these tissues and to correlate the presence of the viral DNA and aggressiveness of these tumors. Methods: Thirty formalin fixed and paraffin embedded blocks were used in the study. Fifteen of them were previously diagnosed as oral squamous cell carcinoma and the others fifteen were previously diagnosed as ameloblastoma and all of them underwent examination for EBV and HPV by real time PCR. Results: HPV was detected among 2/15(13.3%) of squamous cell carcinoma cases and in 4/15(26.6%) of ameloblastoma while EBV was detected among 3/15(20%) of squamous cell carcinoma cases and in 4/15(26.6%) in ameloblastoma. Conclusion: The current study may provides a role of HPV and EBV infection in the etiology of oral SCC and HPV might be implicated in the etiology of ameloblastoma and hence in malignant transformation of this tumor.