Plasma HPV DNA is detectable in oral leukoplakia patients

Abstract

Background Oral leukoplakia is considered a potentially malignant lesion for the development of squamous cell carcinoma, and various risk factors may be related to its development and malignant transformation, including the human papillomavirus (HPV). The aim of this case-control study was to detect the presence of HPV in fresh tissue, plasma and saliva samples obtained from patients with and without oral leukoplakia, and verify the correlation of the presence of DNA of HPV between different sources of materials. Methods In this study, 32 patients with oral leukoplakia and 24 patients selected in a case-control manner were included. DNA extraction from the samples was performed, and afterwards it was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the detection of HPV (nPCR: MY09-MY11/GP05+-GP06+). Results The DNA of HPV was found in 68.75% of the fresh tissue samples; in 50% of plasma, and in 62.5% of saliva samples in the group of patients with leukoplakia; in comparison with 45.8%, 54%, and 45.8%, in the fresh tissue, plasma and saliva samples, respectively, in the control group. Conclusion Based on the present study, there was no difference in the rate of HPV detection in patients with or without oral leukoplakia. However all sources tested in this study were considered suitable for HPV detection, especially plasma samples, which showed be an important non-invasive source of HPV detection in leukoplakia patients.