PP038: Effectiveness of antiseptic rinse for sampling HPV from oral cavity

Knowledge about HPV infection in the oral cavity/oropharynx can contribute to the elucidation of its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Information is accumulating about a subset of HNSCC linked to high-risk HPV types, the same causative agents of cervical cancer as well as other tumors in both women and men. Availability of HPV prophylactic vaccines may change such scenario and therefore defining the role of HPV in HNSCC may conduct to changes public policies of preventing these tumors. Purpose The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of the methodology for sampling the oral mucosa and oropharynx and to determine HPV prevalence in the oral cavity of adults and children. Material and methods The study population was served by an assistance program in a rural district of Sao Paulo, conducted by the Santa Casa de Misericordia of Sao Paulo (PECA program). All subjects were invited to provide a sample regardless of any specific complaints. The study included 47 men, 77 women and 22 children whose oral cavity samples were obtained through swishing a commercial mouth wash and gargles. These samples were processed for DNA extraction, quantification by spectrophotometry, PCR, electrophoresis and genotyping for HPV. Results We found three positive results (2.4%) in adults, 2 samples of HPV 55 and HPV 58 in a sample. No positive results have been observed in children. Conclusion We concluded that the collection method with antiseptic mouth rinse was effective and rapid to the detection of HPV in the oral cavity and oropharynx of the general population.