Role of Human Papilloma Virus in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Patients with Smoking and Non-Smoking Habits Based on Immunoexpression of p16: An Immunohistochemical Study

Tobacco when consumed in various forms have resulted in carcinogenic impact in oral cavity. Another risk factor is human papillomavirus, which is also closely associated with benign and malignant oral lesions. Therefore, the present study has been carried out to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression and distribution of p16INK4a antibody in oral squamous cell carcinoma and to correlate the association of human papilloma virus in patients with and without tobacco consumption.

As the tongue and buccal mucosa remains the most common site for the patients affected with papilloma virus related tumors and oral squamous cell carcinoma, p16 expression has been evaluated in patients who consume tobacco (with habits) and patients who never consumed tobacco (without habits).

In the present study, out of 60 samples, 73 % are males and 27 % are females and out of 30 samples (patients with tobacco habits) 73.3 % patients have the habit of pan chewing and 26.7 % have the habit of smoking. When the buccal mucosa and tongue of patients affected with oral squamous cell carcinoma were compared, expression of p16 didn’t show any significant difference in relation to site. The results showed that p16 expression was observed in all the groups, irrespective of patient’s intake of tobacco.

It can be concluded that tobacco is a major risk factor for oral carcinogenesis and human papilloma virus can act as an independent risk factor or synergistic factor with tobacco in the development of oral cancer.