Survey of human Papillomavirus in samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in elderly patients

• Grant number: 14/19446-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Cecília Botelho Costa
• Grantee: Alessandra Sbegue
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The incidence of head and neck cancer in the elderly people has been increasing gradually in recent years, and the most prevalent one is squamous cell carcinoma. Several risk factors have been associated with the development of these neoplasms, including smoking, drinking and lack of or irregular oral hygiene. Also the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been observed in some of these lesions. This project aims to identify in samples of squamous cell carcinomas obtained from biopsies and surgical extractions the presence of human papillomavirus through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR and nested PCR). The results obtained from this search will be correlated with data obtained about the patient on the records of Clinical Hospital in Campinas, considering the major risk factors to which the individual was exposed, beyond the identification of the main types of virus present in these lesions. Therefore we hope to obtain data which may relate the presence of HPV to the development of neoplasms, and then establish new types of prevention, control and treatment for this disease.