Abstract:
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor which arises in surface epithelium of the
posterior wall of the nasopharynx. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a well known causative agent for this tumour;
recent reports have implicated oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in a subgroup of these tumours. The aim
of this study was to screen for the presence of HPV in (NPC) in Sudan. Methods and Materials; Paraffinembedded tumor specimens from 30 patients with NPC were screened for HPV. HPV detection was performed by
immunohistochemistry targeting type 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 42, 51, 52, 56 and 58. Results: Of the 30 cases included
in this study, there were 6 (20%) keratinising squamous cell carcinomas (KSCCs), 20 (66.7%) non-keratinising
carcinomas, differentiated type (NK-D) and 4(13.3%) non-keratinising carcinomas undifferentiated type (NK-U).
HPV was detected in two cases out of thirty (6.6%), this positivity was observed only in non-keratinising
carcinomas, differentiated type (NK-D). Conclusion: Our data indicated infection with HPV is rare in NPC,
though larger studies are needed to verify these findings.
