Abstract
BackgroundHPV-16 modifies the overall survival (OS) of patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC). HPV-16 has been established as risk factor for OPSCC, but HPV-16 infection may also reside in the larynx and oral cavity. We evaluated HPV-16 status on OS of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.MethodsHPV-16 infection was confirmed by amplification of E6 and E7 viral oncogenes through PCR assay and E6 IHC in 185 HNSCC samples. Associations between HPV-16 status and clinicopathological parameters were performed using Fisher’s exact test and x2. Survival analysis was completed using Kaplan-Meier estimator and multivariate Cox regression analysis.ResultsOS of HPV-16 positive patients was longer compared to HPV-16 negative patients (P = 0.002). HPV-16 positive tumors of the larynx (LSCC) and pharynx (PSCC) showed improved OS compared to HPV-16 negative tumors. Also, HPV-16 positive patients exposed to radiotherapy presented a better survival.ConclusionsHPV-16 status has a positive prognostic value in HNSCC. Addition of HPV-16 status to the TNM staging can provide better assessment in prognosis and guide treatment for HNSCC patients.
Highlights
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 modifies the overall survival (OS) of patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC)
Our study shows that HPV-16 positivity modifies the OS of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in two anatomical sub-sites, pharynx squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and larynx squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), but not in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (Fig. 2)
We have shown that HPV-16 is present, in oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) as previously described, but it was detected in LSCC and OSCC
Summary
HPV-16 modifies the overall survival (OS) of patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC). HNSCC is the seventh most common type of cancer diagnosed, and it is ranked as the eighth cause of cancer death worldwide [1, 2]. This cancer includes tumors from the oral cavity (OSCC) (ICD-10-C14.8), pharynx (PSCC) (ICD-10-C14.0), larynx (LSCC) (ICD-10-C32.9), and the paranasal sinuses (ICD-10-C31.9) [3]. HNSCC has been more frequently diagnosed in men, with a male–female ratio of about 4:1. This ratio is rapidly changing because more women are exposing themselves to tobacco and alcohol [5]. The overall-5year survival (OS) for HNSCC patients is 65.9 %, for all HNSCC sites and stages [6], with a median survival of 2.5 years after treatment
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