title: Nested PCR for detection of HSV-1 in oral mucosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been estimated that 15%-20% of human tumours are driven by infection and inflammation, and viral infections play an important role in malignant transformation. The evidence that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) could be involved in the aetiology of oral cancer varies from weak to persuasive. This study aimed to investigate by nested PCR (NPCR) the prevalence of HSV-1 in samples from normal oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the prevalence of HSV-1 in biopsies obtained from 26 fresh, normal oral mucosa from healthy volunteers as well as 53 oral leukoplakia and 27 OSCC paraffin-embedded samples. DNA was extracted from the specimens and investigated for the presence of HSV-1 by nested polymerase chain reaction (NPCR) and DNA sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSV-1 was detected in 14 (54%) of the healthy samples, in 19 (36%) of the oral leukoplakia samples, and in 14 (52%) of the OSCC samples. The differences were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a high incidence of HSV-1 in healthy oral mucosa, oral leukoplakia, and OSCC tissues. Thus, no connection between OSCC development and presence of HSV-1 was detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Faculty, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751 85, Sweden, Lars.Sand@surgsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: Miranda-Masoumeh
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jalouli
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jalouli
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hasséus
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Öhman
authors.forename: Jan-Michaél
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000821:virology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult