Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of human papillomavirus-16 and human papillomavirus-18 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A case–control study

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in oral squamous cell carcinoma using polymerase chain reaction. Methods: A case–control study design was used including 20 OSCC cases and 20 age-matched controls. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and amplified using HPV type-specific primers. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests. Results: HPV DNA was detected in 55% of OSCC cases and 30% of controls. No statistically significant association was observed between HPV presence and age, gender, tumor site, or histological grade. Conclusions: Although HPV prevalence was higher in OSCC cases, the difference was not statistically significant. The detection of HPV in normal mucosa underscores the need to differentiate latent, subclinical, and clinically relevant infections.