Cancer stage and pack-years, but not p16 or HPV, are relevant for survival in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

Abstract

PurposeRecently, p16 has been included in the TNM guideline for oropharyngeal carcinomas. The role of HPV and p16 in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas has not yet been established sufficiently.MethodsHundred and thirty-four patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinomas were included in this retrospective analysis. Only patients with known HPV status were eligible for the investigation. Survival probabilities were estimated for different risk factors.ResultsEighty-five patients presented with laryngeal carcinoma and 49 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. 8% were HPV positive (10.6% laryngeal, 4.1% hypopharyngeal carcinoma). Median follow-up time was 58 months. We observed a significantly better overall survival for patients with an early tumor stage compared to advanced carcinoma. One of the hypopharyngeal HPV positive carcinomas was also p16 positive and one was p16 negative. Of the nine HPV positive laryngeal carcinomas, four were p16 positive and five p16 negative. Neither patients who were HPV positive nor patients positive for p16 showed a significantly better outcome than HPV or p16 negative patients. In contrast, nicotine pack-years showed a highly significant correlation with survival in our patient collective.ConclusionsThe data suggest that tumor stage and nicotine exposure seem to have the highest impact on survival in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients. There is no evidence for a better survival for p16 positive or HPV positive patients with hypopharyngeal or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. HPV seems to play a minor role in these entities of head and neck carcinoma.

Infiltration of FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells is a Strong and Independent Prognostic Factor in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…As expected, patients with early stage HNSCC tumors (stages I–II) have longer OS than patients with advanced stage tumors (stages III–IV). The same findings were recently published in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, where early stage tumors (stages I–II) presented a better overall survival than advanced stage tumors (III–IVc) [35]. Moreover, we found that tumors with differentiated histological grade have better RFS and OS than undifferentiated tumors.…”

Overexpression of miRNA 4451 is Associated With a Poor Survival of Patients With Hypopharyngeal Cancer After Surgery With Postoperative Radiotherapy

“…As an important prognostic factor in head and neck carcinoma, human papillomavirus (HPV) status seems to be prevalent in oropharyngeal carcinoma. Dahm showed that HPV infection did exist in HC patients; however, there was no evidence for a better survival for HPV-positive patients with HC [26] .…”

TP53 and PTEN as driver mutations in Zenker's carcinoma—a clinical presentation

“…12 The literature suggests also that hypopharynx carcinomas are more frequently HPV (-) than HPV (+). [23][24][25] These findings may speak in favor of a similar molecular origin of Zenker's carcinoma, HPV (-) HNSCC, and hypopharynx carcinoma. However, a reliable comparison between Zenker's carcinoma and hypopharynx carcinoma is challenging because the available data about the molecular origin of hypopharynx carcinomas are also limited.…”

“…The literature suggests also that hypopharynx carcinomas are more frequently HPV (‐) than HPV (+) 23‐25 . These findings may speak in favor of a similar molecular origin of Zenker's carcinoma, HPV (‐) HNSCC, and hypopharynx carcinoma.…”