HPV and p53 expression in dysplastic lesions and squamous carcinomas of the oral mucosa.

We studied 18 premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral mucosa, 3 dysplasias, and 15 oral squamous carcinomas with varied localizations: lips, palate, and tongue. Immunoassays for HPV were positive in 42.8% of the squamous carcinomas, without correlation with the pattern or the degree of differentiation of the lesions. P53 immuno-expression was positive in 2 of the 3 studied cases of dysplasia (66.6%) and in 13 from the 15 cases of squamous carcinomas (86.6%). The p53 immuno-positivity in both lesional categories, with a higher rate in carcinomas, indicates the fact that the p53 gene mutations can appear precocious in the oral carcinogenesis, but can not be used as malign potential prediction factor.