Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Human Papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer: an observational study of diagnosis, prevalence and prognosis in a UK population

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Max RobinsonORCiD

Downloads


Abstract

Background: The incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is increasing. HPV-associated OPC appear to have better prognosis than HPV-negative OPC. The aim of this study was to robustly determine the prevalence of HPV-positive OPC in an unselected UK population and correlate HPV positivity with clinical outcome. Methods: HPV testing by GP5+/6+ PCR, In Situ Hybridisation (ISH) and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 138 OPCs diagnosed in South Wales (UK) between 2001–06. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to correlate HPV status with clinical outcome. Results: Using a composite definition of HPV positivity (HPV DNA and p16 overexpression), HPV was detected in 46/83 (55%) samples where DNA quality was assured. Five year overall survival was 75.4% (95% CI: 65.2 to 85.5) in HPV-positives vs 25.3% (95% CI: 14.2 to 36.4) in HPV negatives, corresponding to a 78% reduction in death rate (HR 0.22, p < 0.001). HPV-positives had less locoregional recurrence but second HPV-positive Head and Neck primaries occurred. Poor quality DNA in fixed pathological specimens reduced both HPV prevalence estimates and the prognostic utility of DNA-based HPV testing methods. As a single marker, p16 was least affected by sample quality and correlated well with prognosis, although was not sufficient on its own for accurate HPV prevalence reporting. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant burden of OPC associated with HPV infection. HPV positive cases are clinically distinct from other OPC, and are associated with significantly better clinical outcomes. A composite definition of HPV positivity should be used for accurate prevalence reporting and up-front DNA quality assessment is recommended for any DNA-based HPV detection strategy.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Evans M, Newcombe R, Fiander A, Powell J, Rolles M, Thavaraj S, Robinson M, Powell N

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMC Cancer

Year: 2013

Volume: 13

Print publication date: 01/05/2013

Date deposited: 12/07/2013

ISSN (electronic): 1471-2407

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-13-220

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-220

Notes: Article no. 220 is 10 pp.


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share