DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMMA VIRUS AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS IN SUBJECTS OF ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION(PCR)

Viruses such as HPV and EBV have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of oral precancer and cancer, however the association is inconclusive. Hence, the present study aimed to determine the incidence of HPV and EBV in subjects with oral leukoplakia. The association of HPV and EBV with age, clinical form of leukoplakia and dysplasia was also evaluated. Methodology:-A total of 50 subjects with leukoplakia(clinically and histopathologically confirmed) and 50 age and gender matched individuals were included in the study. Tissue specimens from all the subjects were subjected to PCR analysis for detection of HPV and EBV. Results:-The expression of HPV and EBV was higher in the leukoplakia group as compared to controls and this difference was statistically significant with respect to HPV(p value - 0.03), but not with respect to EBV (p value :0.12). There was no significant association between HPV and EBV with respect to clinical forms of leukoplakia and dysplasia. The expression of EBV was significantly higher in subjects over 56 years as compared to the other age groups (p value : 0 .03). Conclusion:-Although, a significant difference in the incidence of HPV was noted between subjects with OL and controls, further evaluation of the expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins would provide confirmatory evidence on the role of HPV in leukoplakia. It may be inferred that EBV has limited role in the etiology of leukoplakia. Further studies would give better clarity on the role of EBV in leukoplakia.