Abstract
Viruses are associated with many different tumors. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is prevalent in Burkitt lymphoma and pharyngeal carcinoma, and human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in cervical carcinoma. How are these viruses related to well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma (WDOSCC)? In the present study, EBV and HPV were detected in WDOSCC by the using the in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of 30 well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoms, 10 oral leukoplakis and 10 epulides were used for detection of EBV DNA and HPV DNA by the in situ PCR reaction method. MY 09/11 and BamHIW primers were utilized for detection of HPV DNA and EBV DNA, respectively. EBV DNA was detected in the central regions of the tumor nests in all WDOSCC. EBV DNA signals were positive mainly in the upper layer of the non-neoplastic epithelium included in the tumor tissues and also positive in the infiltrating lymphocytes in the stroma of the tumor tissues. However, although HPV DNA signals were not observed in the lymphocytes in the stroma of the tumor tissues, they were detected in all of the WDOSCC in the same pattern as that of the EBV DNA signals. To some extent, a mixed infection of EBV and HPV seemed to be a risk factor associated with carcinogenesis of WDOSCC. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2007 ; 41 : 125-131)
