DETECTION AND TYPING OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN VERRUCOUS CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and types of human papil lomavirus (HPV) DNA in oral cavity verrucous carcinoma. Design: This w as of a retrospective screening study. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedd ed tissue samples were examined by the chain reaction using DNA primer s specific for HPV types 6b/11, 16, and 18. Setting: The majority of p atients were seen at referral centers in Ontario, Canada. Patients: Th is study examined 29 oral cavity verrucous carcinomas occurring in a s ample of 25 patients from four institutions between 1966 and 1992. All tumors met standardized histologic diagnostic criteria of verrucous c arcinoma. Main Outcome Measure: The prevalence of HPV 6b/11, 16, and 1 8 DNA was determined by the PCR technique. Results: The HPV DNA was de tected in 12 (48%) of 25 patients. The HPV 6b/11 DNA, HPV 16 DNA, HPV 18 DNA, and HPV 16 DNA plus HPV 18 DNA, were detected in one (4%), one (4%), nine (36%), and one (4%) cases, respectively. Conclusions: The detection of HPV 18 DNA in 40% of oral cavity verrucous carcinomas sug gests an association between the presence of HPV 18 DNA and some oral cavity-verrucous carcinomas. The etiologic and prognostic significance of HPV 18 for oral cavity verrucous carcinoma remains unanswered and will require further study.