DETECTION OF HPV DNA IN ORAL-CARCINOMA USING POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TOGETHER WITH IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

This study determined the prevalence of human papillomavirus 16/18 DNA in deparaffinized oral carcinoma specimens on slides with the use of the different sensitivities of in situ hybridization and a technique t hat combines polyermase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Huma n papillomavirus DNA was not detected in the 30 biopsy specimens analy zed by in situ hybridization alone using biotinylated DNA probes speci fic for human papillomavirus 16/18. Twenty of 30 specimens (66.7%) wer e found to have human papillomavirus DNA (p < 0.001) with the use of t he polymerase chain reaction-in situ hybridization technique. Human pa pillomavirus 16 was detected in 18 of 26 specimens (69.2%), and 7 of 2 5 carcinomas (28%) were found to contain human papillomavirus 18. Dual infections were present in 5 of 21 (23.8%) specimens. Human papilloma virus DNA was more prevalent in men (75%) than women (57.1%). However, there was no difference in the mean age of patients with oral carcino ma (men, 67.8 years; women, 67.5 years) who had human papillomavirus a nd those who did not (67.2 years). Carcinomas associated with dual inf ections occurred at a lower mean age (59.4 years) than those associate d with a single human papillomavirus type (p < 0.005). We conclude tha t the polymerase chain reaction-in situ hybridization technique enhanc es our ability to demonstrate human papillomavirus types highly associ ated with oral squamous cell carcinoma.