High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Type 18 in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Thailand

Abstract

Objectives:The main objectives of this study were to investigate the detection rate of high-risk human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (high-risk HPV16/18) in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) including oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral lichen planus (OLP) in a Thai population and their associations with demographic, risk habits, and clinicopathologic features. Methods: Paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed specimens from 101 OL and 59 OLP patients with patients' demographic, risk habits, and clinicopathologic data were collected. Conventional qualitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect high-risk HPV16/18 DNA. Associations between high-risk HPV type 16/18 and demographic, clinicopathologic, risk factors (tobacco and alcohol uses) of OPMDs were analysed by Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The results with p value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: HPV16/18 DNA was found in both OL and OLP groups with the detection rate of 19.8% and 18.6%, respectively. Approximately 90% of high-risk HPV were HPV18 subtype. Additionally, in OL group, high-risk HPV was found more frequently in patients with moderate/severe dysplasia than that in mild dysplasia. Interestingly, in OLP group, high-risk HPV was only detected in atrophic/ulcerative subtypes. None of risk factors was associated with high-risk HPV. Conclusions: Approximately 19% of OPMDs were HPV16/18-positive. HPV18 DNA was predominantly detected in both OL and OLP patients (90%). Additionally, the detection rate of high-risk HPV was higher in more severe dysplastic cases of OL and more clinically severe cases of OLP.

The association between high‐risk human papillomavirus and oral lichen planus

“…According to Table 6 , the association of HPV and OLP varied significantly by geographic population; even in different area of the same country, this relationship is associated with varied results (present study; Farhadi et al, 2020 ; Nafarzadeh et al, 2017 ; Zare et al, 2022 ). The type of HPV detected in OLP lesions also seems to be geographically dependent, although high‐risk HPVs, especially HPV‐18, was the predominant subtype in most of the studies (present study; Kaewmaneenuan et al, 2021 ; T. Liu et al, 2018 ; Sameera et al, 2019 ; Vijayan et al, 2022 ). Although the correlation between HPV and OLP subtype is debatable, most of the studies with significant results report that HPV detection in erosive‐atrophic subtype is well above that of non‐erosive‐atrophic subtype of OLP (Farhadi et al, 2020 ; Kaewmaneenuan et al, 2021 ; Vijayan et al, 2022 ).…”

“…According to 2017; Zare et al, 2022). The type of HPV detected in OLP lesions also seems to geographically dependent, although high-risk HPVs, especially HPV-18, was the predominant subtype in most of the studies (present study; Kaewmaneenuan et al, 2021;T. Liu et al, 2018;Sameera et al, 2019;Vijayan et al, 2022).…”

“…Liu et al, 2018;Sameera et al, 2019;Vijayan et al, 2022). Although the correlation between HPV and OLP subtype is debatable, most of the studies with significant results report that HPV detection in erosiveatrophic subtype is well above that of non-erosive-atrophic subtype of OLP (Farhadi et al, 2020;Kaewmaneenuan et al, 2021;Vijayan et al, 2022).…”

“…Overall, the detection rate of HPV varied from 0%–86.6% in OLP samples and 0%–28% in control (normal oral mucosa) samples in these studies. There are still conflicting results about the association between HPV infection and OLP; while some report the high detection rate (DR) of HPV virus in OLP lesions or the significant difference in the frequency of the virus between OLP and normal mucosa (Della Vella et al, 2021 ; Farhadi et al, 2020 ; Kaewmaneenuan et al, 2021 ; T. Liu et al, 2018 ; Poulopoulos et al, 2017 ; Sameera et al, 2019 ; Vijayan et al, 2022 ), others report the low detection rate of the virus or the nonsignificant difference in the frequency of the virus between OLP and normal mucosa (Bar et al, 2021 ; Gomez‐Armayones et al, 2019 ; Illeperuma et al, 2021 ; Jabar, 2017 ; Nafarzadeh et al, 2017 ; Panzarella et al, 2017 ; Zare et al, 2022 ). According to Table 6 , the association of HPV and OLP varied significantly by geographic population; even in different area of the same country, this relationship is associated with varied results (present study; Farhadi et al, 2020 ; Nafarzadeh et al, 2017 ; Zare et al, 2022 ).…”

PCR-based Evaluation of Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Oral Lichen Planus

“…High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly genome of HPV-16 and 18, has recently been identified as an emerging risk of OPMD. [ 6 ]…”