Polymerase chain reaction; detection of human papilloma virus [HPV] type - 16 and 18 infection in laryngeal and oral squamous cell carcinoma in southern Iran

One fifth of cancers world wide are associated with viral infection. Epidemiologic and biomolecular evidence suggested that Human Papilloma Virus [HPV] infection may be associated with the development of head and neck cancer. [1] To clarify the role of HPV infection in head and neck cancers. [2] To evaluate the presence of HPV DNA in laryngeal and oral squamous cell carcinoma in southern Iran and comparison of results with studies in other regions Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Khallili Hospital, Shiraz Medical University Iran From 2003 to 2006. Eighty three [83] patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma [SCC] of the larynx, 40 patients with benign mucosal lesion of the larynx [control], 47 patients with SCC of oral cavity and 10 patients with benign oral lesion were studied for the presence, of HPV DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR]. None of the laryngeal SCCs or control group was positive for HPV DNA. Only 3/47 specimens from oral SCC were positive for HPV DNA. Oral control group was negative for HPV DNA. The present work suggests that HPV infection has not important role in carcinogenesis of laryngeal or oral SCC in southern Iran. However a multi center case-control study is needed to clarify this association