Background: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the predominant malignancy of the oral cavity, frequently associated with habits such as tobacco and alcohol usage. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a known gastric pathogen, has been hypothesized to play a role in OSCC pathogenesis. Aim: To evaluate the association of H. pylori in OSCC using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 40 FFPE tissue samples, comprising 25 OSCC cases with habits, 5 OSCC cases without habits, and 10 control samples from non-cancerous individuals. DNA was extracted using a modified Proteinase-K method, and H. pylori presence was assessed by RT-PCR using JW22 and JW23 primers. The standard strain of H. pylori was used to establish a quantitative standard curve. Results: H. pylori was detected in 42.5% (17/40) of samples. Among OSCC with habits, 47.8% of well-differentiated and 42.9% of moderately differentiated cases showed positivity. Control samples showed 30% positivity. No significant association was observed between the presence of H. pylori and the occurrence of OSCC or with type of habit. Conclusion: Although H. pylori DNA was present in several samples, the study found no significant association between H. pylori and OSCC. Further large-scale research is necessary to confirm any potential role of H. pylori in oral carcinogenesis.
