Background: Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in India, with a majority of patients presenting in late stages leading to high mortality. Leukoplekia or other ulcerated early lesions may harbor malignant lesions, as well as precancerous oral lesions which may have high potential for progression to cancer. Detection of High- Risk HPV infection and h-TERT expression which play an important role in oral carcinogenesis may predict the tumorigenic transformation potential if detected in early stages.

Material & Method: Smears from 28 oral cancer patients obtained through imprint / FNAC were employed for detection of HR-HPV infection and h-TERT expression. Detection of h-TERT was done by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies to h-TERT. Telomerase activity was recorded in a scale of negative - grade I, grade -II. HPV was detected by Hybrid Capture II method.

Results: High-risk HPV was detected in 9 out of 28 cases (32.1%) of oral cancer. Seven of these cases also showed h-TERT expression. As such, h- ERT was recorded in 10/ 28 (35.7%) cases of oral cancer and in these about 60% of frankly malignant cells showed intense staining.

Conclusion: High risk HPV positivity and h-TERT expression together can serve as potential indicators for oral cancer development and progressions.