Characterizing Human Papillomavirus Associated Oral Epithelial Dysplasia

The role of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is well documented in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and cervical cancer. Although a subset of oral dysplastic lesions have been associated to HPV infection as well, there is currently limited data characterizing these lesions. We identified HPV-associated oral epithelial dysplasia (HPV-OED) through screening for histopathological features of HPV and p16INK4a immunoreactivity. Transcriptionally active infections were confirmed by performing RT-qPCR to identify E6 mRNA expression. We identified 82 cases of confirmed HPV-OED that showed a strong predilection for male patients and anatomical sites such as floor of mouth and ventral tongue. This group had a median age of 56.1 years. The utility of E6 immunohistochemistry was tested as a diagnostic marker and was deemed inconclusive. Interestingly, there was significant recurrence of lesions in our population (18%) and infrequent progression to malignancy (<1%).

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Rosic, Damir

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• McCord, Christina
• Khan, Zia
• Lapointe, Henry

• HPV
• dysplasia
• cancer
• p16
• E6 mRNA
• epithelial.

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/32781

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/32781