Exploring HPV-linked head and neck cancer in Southern Punjab, Pakistan: Insights from HPV-16 phylogenetic analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction/objectives

Head and neck region squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease that can be categorized into human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive (20 %) and HPV-negative (80 %) subtypes. However, the prevalence of HPV genotypes is not clear in Pakistan. This study investigated how common the HPV-16 genotype is in patients with HNSCC in the Southern Punjab region of Pakistan, and the specific molecular features of this genotype.

Methods

For this cross-sectional study, 85 tissue samples were collected from diagnosed cases of HNSCC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for genomic DNA extraction. The L1 region was amplified using GP5+ and GP6+ primers to detect HPV DNA. Real-time PCR was conducted to genotype high-risk HPV (HR-HPV).

SUBMITTER: Kashif M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11999256 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature