Analysis of oral papillomas, leukoplakias, and invasive carcinomas for human papillomavirus type related DNA.

Five papillomas, five leukoplakias, and six carcinomas were investigated for the presence of papillomavirus group-specific antigens and viral DNA. Viral proteins were identified with genus-specific papillomavirus antibodies. Cloned human papillomavirus (HPV) 11 and 16 DNA were used as probes in Southern blot hybridization at conditions of different stringency in order to determine viral DNA. Four of five papillomas, four of five leukoplakias, and three of six carcinomas reacted with HPV DNA probes and revealed some stained cells after exposure to HPV antibodies. HPV type 16 was found in one carcinoma and HPV type 11 was demonstrated in another case of carcinoma.