Detection of various types of human papillomavirus DNA, mainly belonging to the cutaneous-group, more frequently in normal tissue than in squamous cell carcinomas of the lip

Abstract

Background: Mucosal high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), such as type 16, are detectable in oral cancers, especially of the oropharynx and tonsils, and there is evidence that they play a pathogenetic role in some cases. However, information is limited about their significance for cancers of the vermilion of the lip.

Objective: To determine the detection rate, types and localization of HPVs in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the lip.

Methods: Nested PCR for cutaneous HPVs, including epidermodysplasia verruciformis-related HPV (EV-HPV), and single PCR for mucosal HPVs, were conducted for a total of 27 SCCs and normal samples from 30 individuals. Tyramide-based in situ hybridization (ISH) was also applied.

Results: Various types of HPVs were detected, particularly from normal individuals. Among the kinds of the HPV types detected in this study, half were found by PCR using a primer pair, which we newly designed. The prevalence of HPV was 5 out of 27 SCCs (ca. 18%) and 10 out of 30 normal individuals (ca. 33%). They were the entire cutaneous-group except for two, from one SCC and one normal individual.

Conclusion: On the surface of the normal lip various types of mainly cutaneous-group HPVs may be present, but there does not appear to be any obvious association with SCCs developing in this site.