Cytogenetic and micronuclei study of human papillomavirus-related oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The association of human papilloma viral infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma is well studied in the Western countries, but its correlation with DNA damage in the form of micronuclei (MN) formation, ceased apoptosis or presence of chromosomal abnormalities has not yet been studied. AIM: The aim of this study is to find any possible correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cytogenetic damage in the oral malignant and premalignant population of West Bengal. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A total of 104 malignant and 103 premalignant cases were selected along with 200 controls. METHODS: The buccal smear samples were Pap stained for the detection of MN, apoptosis frequency and koilocytes. The buccal swab samples were processed for DNA extraction followed by polymerase chain reaction for the detection of HPV DNA. The peripheral venous blood samples were processed for the detection of any chromosomal abnormality, by the method of human leukocyte culture followed by Giemsa staining. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Correlation analysis using GraphPad Prism software was used in this study. RESULTS: About 34.6%, 42.3% and 6.73% of malignant and 6.79%, 3.88% and 20.38% of premalignant cases showed the presence of HPV DNA, koilocytes and apoptosis, respectively. The difference between the MN frequencies of premalignant and malignant oral lesions with the control group is significant with respect to various risk factors (P < 0.05). One percentage of malignant cases showed the presence of chromosomal break. CONCLUSION: A considerable percentage of malignant cases showing the presence of koilocytes and viral DNA may indicate the effect of HPV infection leading to the malignancy, which can be correlated with the MN and apoptosis frequency.