Baba Farid University Dental Journal
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 2

Prevalence and prognostic significance of Helicobacter pylori in oral squamous cell carcinoma- an immunohistochemical study

  • Author:
  • Hershita Singh1, Vandana Katoch2, Sandeep Sidhu3,*, Apoorva Ravi Sondh4, Mamta Sharma5
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 41 to 47

1Reader, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, National Dental College, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Punjab, India

2Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Dental Sciences, Sehora, Jammu, India

3Reader, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Maharaja Ganga Singh Dental College and Research Centre, Srigangangar, Rajasthan, India

4Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Swami Devi Dyal Hospital and Dental College, Golpura, Barwala, Panchkula, India

5PG Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Rajasthan Dental College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding Author: Sandeep Sidhu, Reader, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, National Dental College, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Punjab, India, Email: dr.sandeepsidhu30@gmail.com

Online Published on 19 February, 2026.

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is among the most prevalent malignancies globally, with established risk factors including tobacco, alcohol, and certain infections. Helicobacter pylori, a recognized class I carcinogen strongly implicated in gastric cancer, has also been detected in oral lesions, raising interest in its possible role in OSCC pathogenesis.

To assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in OSCC and determine its prognostic significance.

The study analyzed 70 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, comprising 60 OSCC cases and 10 normal oral mucosa controls. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using FLEX Polyclonal Rabbit Anti-Human H. pylori antibody. Associations between H. pylori expression and clinicopathological parameters were examined. The association between Helicobacter pylori expression (scores 0–4) and clinicopathological variables was evaluated using the Chi-square test. Strength and direction of correlation were further assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Among 70 cases, Helicobacter pylori expression was absent in normal mucosa but consistently detected in OSCC samples, with higher scores observed in moderately and poorly differentiated carcinomas. A statistically significant association was noted between H. pylori colonization and histopathological grade (p=0.033), indicating increasing bacterial density with loss of differentiation. No significant correlations were observed with tumor T, N, M, or overall clinical stage. Prognostic analysis revealed that higher H. pylori scores were more frequently associated with mortality, showing a near-significant trend (p=0.094), whereas no meaningful association was identified with recurrence or disease-free survival.

To conclude, Helicobacter pylori colonization was significantly higher in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) than in normal mucosa. Density decreased with increasing histopathological grade but showed no significant association with T, N, M, or clinical stage. Higher bacterial load correlated with recurrence and reduced survival, indicating potential prognostic significance.

Keywords

Helicobacter pylori, Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry, Prognostic significance, Histopathological grade, Carcinogenesis