MOLECULAR BIOLOGIC ASPECTSOF SOMELARYNGEALAND HYPOPHARYNGEALTUMOURS

Abstract

Neoplasms are disease entities with, still unknown etiology.They are characterized pathologically by an autonomous growth which is out of control. The abnormalities that result in neoplastic growth are stably inherited on the cellular level, suggesting that neoplasms are diseases resulting from genetic alterations in the genes controlling the cell growth.

The problem remained to lind the cause of this genetic alteration. Oncogenic viruses have partially solved this problem, since they have been incriminated in many tumors.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well known oncogenic virus, being strongly incriminated in cervical carcinoma in females and in some skin malignancies. The HPV has also, been reported in malignancies of the head and neck.

HPV may play a role in the pathogenesis of neoplastic alterations and carcinomas of the larynx and pharynx.

Recent studies evidencing HPV-DNA genomes in a large series of non malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions suggest a role of HPV in the transformation of laryngeal lesions possibly in synergistic interaction with other carcinogens