PREVALENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN BIOPSIES OF SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNX (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and oropharynx is a common neoplasm, frequently associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This research investigates the prevalence of HPV in SCC biopsies, exploring its relevance for the etiology and prognosis of this disease. Objectives: To explore the prevalence of findings suggestive of HPV in oral and oropharyngeal SCC, especially in relation to the identification of markers of poor prognosis and preventive and therapeutic strategies. Methodology: The searches used articles published between 2019 and 2024 in the databases: PubMed and BVS, using the descriptors: “Prevalence”; “Human Papillomavirus”; “Squamous Cell Carcinoma”; “Mouth”; and “Oropharynx", combined with the Boolean operator “AND". Results: Of the 59 articles found, only 7 were selected for this study after excluding studies that did not follow a systematic or literature review methodology, were published before 2019, had incomplete text or duplicates. Conclusion: In summary, the data analysis highlights the association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer. Although anaplasia and multinucleation are not significant predictors, the need to investigate markers of poor prognosis in the HPV-positive subgroup is evident. The interaction between HPV-16, smoking and alcohol emphasizes the importance of integrated approaches in prevention and treatment. The role of the TERT promoter as a potential prognostic marker deserves attention. Feasible clinical assessments in screening for HPV-OPSCC underscore the importance of early surveillance. These results emphasize the need for further research and multidisciplinary collaboration to understand and effectively manage HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.