Salivary detection of viral DNA loads of HPV 16 and 18 in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in developing countries. Viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV) are known to play a substantial role in aetiopathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to detect the viral DNA loads of HPV 16 and HPV 18 in the saliva samples collected from the oral potential malignant disorders (OPMDs) group, OSCC group, and control group; the objective of the present study is to analyse the possible role of HPV 16 and 18 in the pathogenesis of OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 45 cases which were divided into three groups, "A", "B", and "C", comprising 15 cases each. Group "A" comprised disease-free subjects as controls. Group "B" comprised clinically and histopathologically diagnosed cases of OPMDs. Group "C" comprised OSCC. Results obtained were sent for statistical analysis. Chi-square test was performed to study the distribution of HPV 16 and HPV 18. Statistical analysis was performed using a computer with Statistical Package for Social Science software (SPSS VS 18). A P value of 0.005 was taken as standard. RESULTS: Group "A" was found negative for both HPV 16 and 18; in group "B", out of 15 cases, 08 cases were positive for HPV 16 and 03 cases were positive for HPV 18, whereas in group "C", out of 15 cases, 10 cases were positive for HPV 16 and 04 cases were positive for HPV 18. The P value was 0.00 (<0.005) for HPV 16, which was significant, whereas for HPV 18, the P value was 0.111 (>0.005), which was insignificant. CONCLUSION: HPV 16 followed by HPV 18 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of OPMDs and OSCC.