Non radioactive in situ hybridization for detection of human papilloma virus DNA in squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.

Previous studies indicate that HPV type 16 and 18 (HPV) are associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In this investigation we evaluate in our hospital 253 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue not related to tobacco or alcohol with a tumor index of T2 NO MO between 1981 and 1991. From 12 patients we were able to obtain tissue. For detection of human papilloma virus, DNA sequences 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 in paraffin-embedded human tissue biopsies a non-radioactive in situ hybridization procedure was utilized. Approximately 60% of the carcinoma of the tongue are positive for episomal viral DNA 6, 11, 16 and 18. These results confirms that HPV infection may play a possible role in the multifactorial etiology of carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and probably acting synergistically with other carcinogenesis.