Prevalence of Oral Human Papilloma Virus in an Urban Minority Population in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been implicated in majority of cervical cancers, as well as Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). More importantly, evidence has shown that HPV is an independent risk factor for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC). It is a major causative factor for HNSCC of the tonsils, base of the tongue, and the oropharynx. HNSCC is the six most common malignancy in the world. This accounts to 6.5% of annual cancer cases worldwide and 4% in the United States. Currently, 20 million Americans are infected with HPV and 6 million new individuals are infected each year. At least 50% of sexually active adults will be infected with HPV in their lifetime. In the US. 33,000 men and women will develop and HPV associated malignancy this year, and that 12,000 of these cancers will be HNSCC.

Purpose: The overall prevalence of oral HPV infection has been reported to be 7%. However, empirical data on the prevalenceof of oral HPV infection in minority population has been lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of oral HPV in a minority population in the United States.

Methods: The study was done at the Howard University Hospital Dental Clinic. Participants (N=100) were provided a 1-minute oral rinse and gargle with normal saline. Demographic, social history, past medical and family histories were obtained by questionnaires. Detection of HPV was done with DNA purified from exfoliated cells and evaluated by polyermerase chain reaction. Anova and Chi Square analysis were used for continuous (quantitative) variables and categorical (qualitative) variables respectively.

Results: The prevalence of oral HPV infection in our study was 6.0% (n=6). Acquisition of oral HPV infection is weakly significantly associated with the use of birth control or hormonal therapy (P = 0.067).

Conclusion: The prevalence of oral HPV infection in a minority population in the United States is 6.0% (n =6), this is weakly significantly associated with the used of birth control or hormonal therapy.

References:

1. Ang KK, Harris J. Wheeler R, et al: Human papillomavirus and survival of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. N Engl J Med 363: 24-35, 2010

2. Turner et al: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) screening and detection in healthy patient saliva samples: a pilot study. BMC Oral Health 11:28, 2011