Impact of smoking on stage‐specific survival in human papilloma virus–associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) released a new staging system for human papilloma virus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) in their eighth edition. The role of smoking in HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer remains controversial and is not factored into the updated staging system. Methods Single institutional, retrospective chart review of patients with HPV positive OPC from 2009 to 2017 was completed. Dichotomized smoking data were collected into 0–9 and ≥10 pack‐year histories. Kaplan–Meier survival curves compared overall survival (OS) for smokers and nonsmokers. Results Five‐year OS was not statistically different in stage I or stage II HPV positive OPC comparing nonsmokers versus smokers, but worse in stage III smokers (38% vs. 76%, p < 0.05). Conclusion Greater than 10 pack‐year smoking status may negatively affect survival in late stage HPV positive OPC but not in early stage disease. HPV positive smokers may require additional risk stratification.

Understanding the Pattern of Oropharyngeal Cancers from North-East Romanian Patients

“…Smoking was also taken in consideration as a risk factor for survival of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers, by a team from the USA. The authors found that for a smoking status of more than 10 pack/year, the effect on five-year overall survival was significant, and therefore they considered that smoking should be taken in consideration by The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), in the staging system of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer [32]. Gale N et al, used a recently developed HR-HPV (high-risk human papillomaviruses) mRNA silver in situ hybridization (SISH) assay for detecting HPV16, HPV18, and HPV33 in HPV DNA positive oropharyngeal cancers, as it is known that the transcriptional activity of HR-HPV within oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas has been linked to improved survival of the patients.…”