[Papilloma viruses: group-specific antigens within lesions of the oral mucosa]

The present study was undertaken with purpose to investigate the relationships between intraepithelial proliferations of malpighian mucosa and the presence of group specific papilloma virus antigens. The investigations allowing to give viral types or subtypes, the hybridization technics, are very heavy and not disponible in routine practice. The detection of widely distributed genus specific HPV antigen using PAP immunohistochemical labeling in different lesions and their association with displastic or neoplastic processes is presented. Only few studies were performed on oral mucosal proliferations, showing the association of these viral proteins with papillomatous or condylomatous lesions. Our work is directed towards the identification of the HPV antigens in more advanced lesions and in the mucosal epithelium surrounding and perhaps preexistent with the buccal cancer.