Detection of HPV in oral rinse samples from OPSCC and non-OPSCC patients

Abstract

Background: Due to the increasing rates of oropharyngeal cancer, oral HPV infection is a significant concern. Methods for detecting oral HPVs is not standardized as there are different techniques available. We propose that use of oral rinse samples to detect for HPVs is a suitable technique within a clinic setting. Thus, our main objective is to study HPV detection in oral rinse samples.

Methods: In our study, we used oral rinse sample collection coupled with real-time PCR to detect for HPVs types 16 and 18, and preferentially amplified FAP PCR samples to detect for a broad range of HPVs, in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), non-OPSCC, and healthy patients.

Results: Thirty three percent of 100 cancer patients were positive for any type of HPV; of those 23 were positive for HPV16. Only 1 of 110 healthy controls was positive (this subject was positive for HPV18).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that HPV detection in oral rinse samples may be useful as a screening tool to detect HPV-associated oral cancers.

Fig. 1

FAP PCR results on an electrophoresis gel. An expected band of ~480 bp indicates an HPV positive sample

Fig. 2

Comparison of HPV16 viral load (copies/ng DNA) between the two cancer groups. No statistically significant difference was seen (p = 0.40). The gray boxes demonstrate range from lower to upper quartiles. The median is represented by a horizontal line. Maximum and minimum values are indicated by the vertical lines. Viral load variation between each group was demonstrated. The median viral load in OPSCC was slightly higher than non-OPSCC cases