Low prevalence of HPV-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in North-East Italy

Lorena Baboci; Dana Holzinger; Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo; Giancarlo Tirelli; Roberto Spinato; Valentina Lupato; Roberto Fuson; Markus Schmitt; Angelika Michel; Gordana Halec; Maria Cristina Da Mosto; Michael Pawlita; Annarosa Del Mistro

Papillomavirus Research (Dec 2016)

Low prevalence of HPV-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in North-East Italy

Lorena Baboci,
Dana Holzinger,
Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo,
Giancarlo Tirelli,
Roberto Spinato,
Valentina Lupato,
Roberto Fuson,
Markus Schmitt,
Angelika Michel,
Gordana Halec,
Maria Cristina Da Mosto,
Michael Pawlita,
Annarosa Del Mistro

Affiliations

Lorena Baboci: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Oncology and Immunology Section, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128 Padua, Italy
Dana Holzinger: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo: Department of Neurosciences, ENT Clinic and Regional Center for Head and Neck Cancer, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Treviso Regional Hospital, P.le Ospedale 1, 31100 Treviso, Italy
Giancarlo Tirelli: Head and Neck Department, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Roberto Spinato: Venetian Department of Otolaryngology, Ospedale dell’Angelo, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174 Venezia Mestre, Italy
Valentina Lupato: Department of Neurosciences, ENT Clinic and Regional Center for Head and Neck Cancer, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Treviso Regional Hospital, P.le Ospedale 1, 31100 Treviso, Italy
Roberto Fuson: Venetian Department of Otolaryngology, Ospedale dell’Angelo, Via Paccagnella 11, 30174 Venezia Mestre, Italy
Markus Schmitt: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Angelika Michel: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Gordana Halec: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Maria Cristina Da Mosto: Department of Neurosciences, ENT Clinic and Regional Center for Head and Neck Cancer, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Treviso Regional Hospital, P.le Ospedale 1, 31100 Treviso, Italy
Michael Pawlita: Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Annarosa Del Mistro: Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Via Gattamelata, 64, 35128 Padua, Italy; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2
pp. 133 – 140

Abstract

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Objectives: To investigate the frequency of Human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) among patients living in North-East Italy, by assessing HPV-DNA positivity in all tumors and additional markers whenever possible. Material and methods: HPV types, viral load, viral RNA, HPV16/18 E6 protein and p16INK4a and pRb expression were determined in primary tumor tissues from 247 HNSCC patients. Tumor-specific HPV seropositivity was analyzed in 102 patients. Results: Tumor HPV-DNA prevalence was 8.5% overall (21/247) and 27% in oropharynx (17/63). HPV16 accounted for 95% of all HPV types found. Among HPV-DNA+ tumors, type-concordant HPV E6*I RNA prevalence was 79%. HPV DNA+ RNA+ tumors showed high viral load, up-regulated p16INK4a, down-regulated pRb and presence of HPV16 E6 protein. Eight cases showed tumor-specific HPV seropositivity, all type-concordant with the tumor. Tumors were defined as HPV-driven when positive for HPV-DNA plus 2 additional HPV transformation-related markers. Conclusion: Relative prevalence of HPV-driven tumors (14 HPV16, 1 HPV58) was 6% overall and 20% among oropharyngeal cancers. In the oropharynx the HPV-driven group showed a trend for better survival versus the HPV-negative group.The relative prevalence of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer is low in North-East Italy as compared to Western and Northern Europe. Keywords: Head and neck cancer, Oropharyngeal cancer, HPV-driven, HPV-related markers, HPV antibodies, Prevalence

Published in Papillomavirus Research

ISSN: 2405-8521 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/papillomavirus-research/

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