IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL SCREENING FOR HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS AMONG SUDANESE PATIENTS WITH NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

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.