title: High-risk human papillomavirus in oral squamous cell carcinoma of young patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA and p16 expression in young patients. Paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 47 oral SCC of young (≤40-year old) patients were evaluated. The presence of HPV DNA in tumor specimens was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GP5+/GP6+ generic primers (L1 region) followed by dot blot hybridization for HPV typing. When necessary, the HPV16 positivity was confirmed by PCR HPV16 E7-specific primers. Cases involving young patients were compared with 67 oral SCC from patients ≥50-year old (controls). Demographic and clinical data were collected to analyze patient outcomes. p16(ink4)  expression was evaluated by immunostaining of tissue microarrays. HPV16 was detected in 22 (19.2%) cases; 15 (68.2%) young and 7 (31.8%) control patients, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01). In 1 (1.7%) young group specimen, HPV DNA 16 and 18 was detected. p16 expression was observed in 11 (25.6%) cases from the young group and in 11 (19.6%) controls (p = 0.48). Association between HPV and p16 was verified, and it was statistically significant (p = 0.002). The higher prevalence of high-risk HPV types, especially HPV16, may be a contributing factor to oral carcinogenesis in younger individuals.
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A.C. Camargo Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Estela
authors: E
authors: Kaminagakura
authors: Luísa Lina
authors: LL
authors: Villa
authors: Maria Antonieta
authors: MA
authors: Andreoli
authors: João Simão
authors: JS
authors: Sobrinho
authors: José Guilherme
authors: JG
authors: Vartanian
authors: Fernando Augusto
authors: FA
authors: Soares
authors: Inês Nobuko
authors: IN
authors: Nishimoto
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Rocha
authors: Luiz Paulo
authors: LP
authors: Kowalski