Increasing incidence of base of tongue cancers from 2000 to 2010 due to HPV: the largest demographic study of 210 Danish patients

Abstract

Background:We assessed the development in the number of new base of tongue squamous-cell carcinoma (BSCC) cases per year in eastern Denmark from 2000 to 2010 and whether HPV may explain any observable increased incidence.Methods:We performed HPV DNA PCR and p16 immunohistochemistry analysis for all (n=210) BSCCs registered in the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group (DAHANCA) and the Danish Pathology Data Bank, and genotyped all HPV-positive specimens with amplicon-based next-generation sequencing.Results:The overall crude incidence of BSCCs increased significantly (5.4% per year) during the study period. This was explained by a significant increase in the number of HPV-positive BSCCs (8.1% per year), whereas the number of HPV-negative BSCCs did not increase significantly. The overall HPV prevalence was 51%, with HPV16 as the predominant HPV type.Conclusions:The increased number of HPV-positive BSCCs may explain the increasing incidence of BSCCs in eastern Denmark, 2000–2010.

Trends in all-cause five-year mortality after head and neck cancers diagnosed over a period of 33 years. Focus on estimated degree of association with human papillomavirus

“…This was most recently documented in two large Danish studies, which showed increasing proportions of HPV-positive tonsillar carcinoma and carcinomas at the base of the tongue between 2000 and 2010 (estimated annual percentage change 4.9% and 8.1%, respectively) [4,5]. If this increase in HPV prevalence has been higher among men than women and among younger than older individuals, it would support our finding of a greater decrease in mortality among male patients and younger patients with strongly HPV-associated HNSCC.…”

“…The known risk factors for HNC include tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and certain viruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus (HPV) [1,2]. Increase in exposure to HPV over the past few decades have been shown to influence the incidence of certain HNSCCs with significant increases of some HNSCCs, such as those of the oropharynx, especially the tonsil and base of the tongue [3][4][5]. In Denmark, an overall increase in the incidence of HNSCC has been reported, due primarily to an increased incidence of cancers at sites reported to be associated with HPV [3].…”

Validation study of HPV DNA detection from stained FNA smears by polymerase chain reaction: Improving the diagnostic workup of patients with a tumor on the neck

“…This may cause a delay or result in a failure to reach the right diagnosis. In the past decade in Denmark, there has been an increasing incidence of patients with HPV‐positive OPSCC . It is well established that the predominant location of HPV‐positive OPSCC is the tonsillar crypts of the palatine tonsils or the base of the tongue .…”

Research Progress in Oncology. Highlighting and Exploiting the Roles of Several Strategic Proteins in Understanding Cancer Biology

“…Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is one of the most aggressive types of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with poor prognosis [47]. The outcome shows a selective participation of c-Jun with Fra-2/c-Fos to promote aggressive tumour phenotypes [48].…”