Time trends in the prevalence of HPV in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in northern Spain (1990–2009)

Abstract

Recent studies support an important role for human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC), although the incidence varies widely depending on the geographic location and time period studied. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of HPV in a large cohort of OPSCC in northern Spain in the years 1990-2009. Clinical records and paraffin embedded tumor specimens of 248 consecutive patients surgically treated for OPSCC (140 tonsillar and 108 base of tongue) between 1990 and 2009 were retrieved. OPSCC cases were histomorphologically evaluated, and protein expression of p16 and p53 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Detection of high-risk HPV DNA was performed by GP51=61-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). Thirty cases (12%) were positive for p16 immunostaining, of which eight (3.2% of the total series) were found positive for HPV type 16 by genotyping of GP5161-PCR products. All HPV GP51=61-PCRpositive tumors were p53-immunonegative, seven had a basaloid morphology and seven were also positive by HPV ISH. Presence of HPV correlated inversely with tobacco and alcohol consumption (p < 0.001), but not with age of onset of OPSCC. Overall survival was better in the HPV-positive group, although not statistically significant (p 5 0.175). OPSCC patients in northern Spain demonstrated a low involvement of HPV, increasing (although not significantly, p 5 0.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in northern Spain

“…One of the possible explanations for the low proportion may lie in a lower exposure to HPV, either due to a lesser presence of HPV in the general population in the north of Spain or to different sexual behavior. In fact, in a previous study we have also found a very low proportion (3.2%) of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in our region [20]. The high prevalence of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking in our region could also influence this low proportion of HPV-related HNSCCs.…”

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinomas of the soft palate

“…The prevalence of HPV-positive OPSCCs shows a considerable geographical variation with reported prevalence ranging from 3.2% in northern Spain12 to 79% in Sweden,13 and a meta-analysis reported a HPV prevalence of 51% 7. We find that 22% of SCCs in the soft palate are HPV-positive, which is lower compared with similar research 6 13.…”

Meta-analysis of survival in patients with HNSCC discriminates risk depending on combined HPV and p16 status

“…Therefore, a geographic differentiation of the study origin was not necessary. However, in future, as more data are available, such geographic distinctions may become relevant, since tobacco consumption and the incidence of HPV infection show differences between countries and continents [4,10,61]. Cofactors such as smoking behavior may impact the prevalence and presence of the two markers HPV and p16, but not the survival of the distinct subgroups [8,72].…”