Localization and characterization of human papillomavirus-16 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Wafaa Saleh; Seunghee Cha; Abdulaziz Banasser; Sarah G Fitzpatrick; Indraneel Bhattacharyya; Jilan M Youssef; Mohamed M Anees; Islam A Elzahaby; Joseph Katz

doi:10.1111/odi.13920

Localization and characterization of human papillomavirus-16 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral Dis. 2023 Mar;29(2):436-444. doi: 10.1111/odi.13920. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Authors

Wafaa Saleh^{1

2}, Seunghee Cha¹, Abdulaziz Banasser¹, Sarah G Fitzpatrick¹, Indraneel Bhattacharyya¹, Jilan M Youssef², Mohamed M Anees², Islam A Elzahaby³, Joseph Katz¹

Affiliations

¹ Oral Diagnostic Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
² Oral Medicine and Periodontology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, FL, USA.
³ Department of Surgical Oncology, Mansoura Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, FL, USA.

PMID: 34022097
DOI: 10.1111/odi.13920

Abstract

Objectives: The role of Human papillomavirus (HPV) in the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been completely elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and localization of HPV-16 virus in OSCC and to correlate HPV-16 positivity and p16INK4A expression with the clinical and pathological features of OSCC.

Methods: The archives of Oral Pathology at the University of Florida, College of Dentistry were accessed for demographic, clinical, histopathological data, and slides of 114 OSCC patients. HPV-16 positivity of OSCC was evaluated by p16INK4A immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HPV-16 E6/E7mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH).

Results: Out of 114 consecutive pathological slides of OSCC, 16 samples (14%) showed positivity for p16INK4A by IHC and 14 samples (12%) were positive for HPV-16 E6/E7mRNA ISH and the Positivity showed a significant correlation with the patients' age, alcohol consumption, and the degree of OSSC differentiation. The hard palate showed the highest positivity of p16INK4A IHC and HPV-16 mRNA ISH (38%, 36% respectively).

Conclusion: HPV-16 is a significant factor in oral carcinogenesis. We recommend using p16INK4A as a surrogate marker for HPV detection in OSCC, which can be complemented by RNA ISH for the identification of HPV subtypes.

Keywords: human papillomavirus; immunohistochemistry; in situ hybridization; oral squamous cell carcinoma; p16INK4A.

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / metabolism
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics
Humans
Mouth Neoplasms* / pathology
Papillomaviridae / genetics
Papillomavirus Infections* / complications
Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Substances

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16

Grants and funding

JS-3785/This study was funded by the grant (JS-3785) supported by the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau in Washington DC, Egyptian Mission sector and Ministry of Higher Education in Egypt.