Oral cancer and human papillomaviruses: is there a link?

Cancer of the oral cavity accounts for almost 56,000 new cases in India each year totalling almost 30% of all cancer cases in the country. Despite the numerous advances in etiology and epidemiology, the mechanisms involved in oral carcinogenesis remain obscure. Current research has provided some provocative results, suggesting an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and development of squamous cell tumors including oral cancer. Evidence has been presented showing HPV infection of the oral mucosa and its relation to neoplastic changes. However a clear cut association as is evident in the uterine cervix is not yet available. However, considering the many similarities between oral and cervical oncogenesis, many of the HPV induced changes in the cervix may also be applicable to the oral mucosa. This paper studies the evidence for the possible role of HPV infection in oral carcinogenesis, the uterine cervix as a model for HPV mediated carcinogenesis, and tries to determine if similar mechanisms could exist in both cases.