Oral cancer, HPV infection and evidence of sexual transmission

  1. Martín Hernán, Fátima
  2. Sánchez Hernández, Juan Manuel
  3. Cano Sánchez, Jorge
  4. Campo Trapero, Julián
  5. del Romero, Jorge
Revue:
Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal. Ed. inglesa

ISSN: 1698-6946

Année de publication: 2013

Volumen: 18

Número: 3

Pages: 439-444

Type: Article

DOI: 10.4317/MEDORAL.18419 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAccès ouvert editor

D'autres publications dans: Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal. Ed. inglesa

Objectifs de Développement Durable

Résumé

The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer and oral cancer is growing worldwide, both in young non-smokers and in young non-drinkers (smoking and drinking are considered the main risk factors). Epidemiologic studies suggest a strong association between the infection by human papillomavirus (HPV), especially types 16 and 18 (high oncological risk) which have already demonstrated their etiological role in anal tumours as well as in cervix cancer. There is clear epidemiologic evidence that both types of tumours relate to changes in sexual behaviour and that both are linked to sexual transmission of HPV. The number of oral and oropharyngeal cancer cases is rising nowadays, especially among young individuals with no typical toxic habits, such as tobacco and/or alcohol. In this review we set out to update the aspects related to the onset of oral cancer, its relationship with HPV infection and whether this association may be due to the sexual transmission of the virus.