Human papillomavirus: association with head and neck cancer

José Francisco Gallegos-Hernández; Eduardo Paredes-Hernández; Rutilio Flores-Díaz; Gabriel Minauro-Muñoz; Teresa Apresa-García; Dulce María Hernández-Hernández

2007, Number 3

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Cir Cir 2007; 75 (3)

Human papillomavirus: association with head and neck cancer

Gallegos-Hernández JF, Paredes-Hernández E, Flores-Díaz R, Minauro-Muñoz G, Apresa-García T, Hernández-Hernández DM

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Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 151-155
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ABSTRACT

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6^th most common cancer worldwide. In 2005, 400,000 cases of HNSCC were diagnosed worldwide. The most frequently affected site is the oral cavity. Alcohol/tobacco consumption is the most important risk factor for this neoplasia; nevertheless, since 1983 it has been suggested that human papilloma viruses (HPV) have a role in HNSCC, mainly in the oropharynx (level 1 evidence). We undertook this study to determine HPV prevalence and types in patients with HNSCC.
Methods: Presence of HPV was determined by polymerase chain reaction and staged by in situ hybridization. We analyzed stage, tumor site of origin, sexual practices, and alcohol/tobacco consumption. Fisher’s exact test and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. We performed a multiple regression analysis for adjustment of variables.
Results: There were 118 patients: 77 men and 41 women. The most frequent site was the oral cavity. Fifty patients (42.3 %) were HPV positive and oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer patients were the most frequently affected (55 % and 50 %, respectively). HPV-16 was most frequently isolated (70 %). Laryngeal cancer patients suffered the highest ratio of HPV-16 infection (68.7 %). Factors associated with HPV (univariate analysis) were age › 50 years, tobacco/alcohol consumption and male gender. In multivariate analysis, none of the variables showed importance (p › 0.5); HPV infection was more frequent in patients with history of alcohol/tobacco consumption (p = 0.6).
Conclusions: There was HPV presence in 42 % of HNSCC patients, HPV-16 in 70 %, with the oropharynx and larynx being the most affected sites. No variables are associated with the virus presence. HPV is a co-factor in HNSCC etiology.

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