Investigating the prevalence and impact of HPV on oral squamous cell carcinoma in rural Karaikal: A case-control study | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 August 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.300920.2042 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Thiripurasundari R1; Kaviya M1; Kokila Manickam 2; Kavitha Y3; Suganya Kannan  4
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| 1Department of Pathology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College and Hospital, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Pondicherry, India | ||||
| 2Central Research Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Vinayaka Mission's Medical College and Hospital, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Puducherry, India | ||||
| 3Department of Microbiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College and Hospital, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Pondicherry, India | ||||
| 4Central Research laboratory for Biomedical Research , Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College and Hospital, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Pondicherry, India | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly high-risk types such as HPV16 and HPV18, is recognized as a significant risk factor in OSCC pathogenesis. Despite extensive research, the role of HPV in OSCC in rural populations, such as Karaikal, remains inadequately explored. Aim: This study aims to assess the prevalence of HPV16 and HPV18 in OSCC patients in Karaikal, explore their association with clinicopathological characteristics, and evaluate socio-demographic factors influencing HPV status. Methods: A case-control design was employed, involving 69 OSCC cases and controls without malignancies. Histopathological confirmation and DNA extraction from paraffin-embedded tissues were performed. HPV16 and HPV18 were detected through PCR using specific primers, and electrophoresis confirmed the amplification. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess associations, using SPSS, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: HPV16 was detected in 66.7% of OSCC cases, while HPV18 was identified in 31.9%. Double positivity for both HPV types was found in 15.9% of cases, and 20.3% were negative for both. No significant associations were observed between HPV status and variables such as age, gender, tumor type, tumor grade, or tumor site. The buccal mucosa was the most common site for HPV-positive cases, with HPV16 being more prevalent than HPV18. Among controls (chronic tobacco users), no HPV DNA was detected, highlighting the critical role of HPV in OSCC pathogenesis. Conclusion: The study underscores the significant prevalence of HPV16 and HPV18 in OSCC cases in Karaikal and their potential role in carcinogenesis. Further research is needed to explore additional HPV subtypes and evaluate the preventive impact of vaccination. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Human Papillomavirus; HPV prevalence; Oral cancer pathogenesis; HPV-associated cancers | ||||
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