The role of the human papilloma virus in the development of potentially malignant diseases and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa

Abstract

The prevalence of HPV in potentially malignant diseases of the oral cavity is 22.5%. Different types of HPV are characterized by genotypic variations in the DNA base sequences E6 and E7. It is these genotypic differences that make it possible to divide the oncogenic phenotype of the virus into types of high and low cancer risk. There are local and general risk factors for HPV infection. Local risk factors include poor oral hygiene, the use of complete dentures in combination with old age. A significant correlation between oral hygiene and viral load has been confirmed. This review presents the possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of potentially malignant diseases and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. The epidemiology, risk factors and mechanisms of human papillomavirus infection development are given. Clinical and morphological differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative forms of oral cancer are considered. The issues of HPV infection prevention and the pathogenetic therapy development of this disease are reviewed. Literature search was carried out in search engines Medline, Elibrary, Scopus, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, RSCI.