The screening of viral risk factors in tongue and pharyngolaryngeal squamous carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The oral cavity and pharyngolarynx is readily open to the environment, which provides a good atmosphere to viral infection and subsequently links to the local carcinogenesis. The aim of this study is to clarify the viral risk factors for tongue and pharyngolaryngeal squamous carcinomas and the oncogenic role of DNA viruses.


METHODS
Tongue, pharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas, and corresponding non-neoplastic mucosa (NNM) were collected and subjected to microdissection and DNA extraction with integrity detected by beta-globin polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Additionally, we examined genomic DNA copies of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 and 18, and John Cunningham virus (JCV) by real-time PCR with a comparison of the clinicopathological features of the tumors.


RESULTS
All the extracted DNA samples showed good integrity. Compared with NNM, EBV and HPV16 copies were higher in the three kinds of head and neck carcinoma respectively (p<0.05). The same situation was also observed in tongue and pharyngeal carcinoma for HPV18, and pharyngeal carcinoma for JCV (p<0.05). There were fewer EBV copies in tongue than pharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma (p<0.05). Pharyngeal carcinoma had a higher HPV16 copy number than tongue and laryngeal carcinoma (p<0.05). Moderately differentiated carcinoma of the head and neck had more EBV copies than well-differentiated (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The viruses studied here might play an important role in the carcinogenesis of tongue and pharyngolaryngeal squamous carcinomas.
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
Yang
Y
Zheng
Pu
P
Xia
Hua-Chuan
HC
Zheng
Hiroyuki
H
Takahashi
Shinji
S
Masuda
Yasuo
Y
Takano
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004263:DNA Tumor Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral