Characterization of high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes associated with oropharyngeal cancers in a Nigerian population

Abstract

Introduction head and neck cancers have essentially been a disease of the elderly but recent studies are beginning to demonstrate their increasing incidence in young people with infections such as human papilloma virus (HPV). This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of high risk Human papilloma virus (hrHPV) related oropharyngeal carcinoma and its prevalent genotypes as well as their strength of association with HIV in adult Nigerian subjects. Methods this was a cross-sectional study of 41 patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas seen over a 2-year period. Patients had incisional and/or excisional biopsy done under anesthesia. A portion of the specimen from which the DNA was extracted was placed in Digene HC2 DNA collection device while the 2 nd portion for histopathological analysis was fixed using 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF) and embedded in paraffin blocks. Oropharyngeal cancer HPV genotyping was done using HPV genotypes 14 real-tm quant kit (SACACE, Italy). The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results prevalence of HPV was 17.1% with a male to female ratio of 2.7: 1. The identified genotypes were 16, 33, 35 and 52 with 28.6% of patients having more than one genotype. Most of the age groups studied were affected. Squamous cell carcinoma and ameloblastic carcinoma were the cancers associated with HPV. HPV was not identified in the HIV positive patients. Conclusion high-risk human papilloma virus genotypes 16, 33, 35 and 52 are associated with oropharyngeal carcinoma in Nigeria but were not found in HIV patients. This finding provides a strong evidence for the use of the 9-valent prophylactic vaccine for the prevention of oropharyngeal cancer in Nigeria. Public awareness and HPV prevention strategies should reduce significantly the incidence of oropharyngeal carcinomas in our environment.

Human Papillomavirus–Associated Head and Neck Malignancies in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…Seven studies reported tobacco use in patients, which ranged from 20.0% to 66.8%. 18 , 19 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 48 , 57 Alcohol use was reported by five studies, ranging from 8.0% to 85.0%. 19 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 48 Sexual history was reported in two studies.…”

“… 18 , 19 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 48 , 57 Alcohol use was reported by five studies, ranging from 8.0% to 85.0%. 19 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 48 Sexual history was reported in two studies. 40 , 41…”

“…The proportion of HIV-positive patients ranged from 4.9% to 27.1% among four studies. 19 , 40 , 41 , 48 There were two papers that reported HIV and HPV coinfection among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 18 , 40 In the study by Kabagenyi et al, 40 6.8% of patients (4 of 59 patients) were HIV-positive and had tumors that were p16-positive.…”

“…These tests also require training and standardized interpretation, which may influence the results. Furthermore, only six studies reported patient risk factor data, 18 , 19 , 40 , 41 , 48 , 57 only two papers provided staging information, 19 , 41 and only one paper reported long-term clinical outcomes. 19 These variables are critically needed to understand the epidemiology of and context of HPV-associated HNC in SSA.…”

Global health trends of human papillomavirus‐associated oral cancer: A review

“…Oral cancer has diverse risk factors, and they include tobacco use [35][36][37], betel (areca) nut chewing [35], alcohol consumption [36], chronic occupational exposure to some petroleum-based and oxygenated solvents (e.g. tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether and benzene) [38], viral infections (by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein Barr virus, HPV) [35,[39][40][41], ultraviolet radiation [35,42] and undernutrition [43][44][45][46]. Of the diverse oral cancer risk factors, tobacco use, alcohol use and oral sex (a transmission route for HPV infection) are the three major risk factors of oral cancer globally [47,48].…”