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HPV infections and tonsillar carcinoma
1Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. stina.syrjanen@utu.fi
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|April 29, 2004
Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to tonsillar carcinomas (TCs). HPV-16 is the most common type, and patients with HPV-16 positive TCs show better survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Carcinogenesis
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been causally linked to a subset of upper aerodigestive tract tumors since 1983.
- Tonsillar carcinomas (TCs) exhibit the strongest association with HPV among non-genital cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of HPV in tonsillar carcinomas.
- To investigate the association between HPV status and patient survival, age, and risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of HPV DNA in 432 tonsillar carcinoma (TC) samples.
- Detection of HPV types, particularly HPV-16 and HPV-33.
- Comparison of HPV-16 positive and negative TC patient demographics and survival outcomes.
Main Results:
- Overall HPV DNA detection rate in TCs was 51%, with HPV-16 being the predominant type (84%).
- HPV-33 was found in only 4.6% of cases, contradicting earlier hypotheses.
- HPV-16 positive TC patients demonstrated significantly better overall and disease-specific survival, were younger, and had a weaker association with smoking and alcohol consumption compared to HPV-negative patients.
Conclusions:
- HPV, particularly HPV-16, plays a significant role in a distinct subgroup of tonsillar carcinomas.
- HPV-16 positive TCs represent a unique clinical entity with improved prognosis and different epidemiological associations.