Human papillomavirus detection in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Virology
• Pathology

Background:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are common diagnoses.
• While tobacco and alcohol are risk factors, human papillomavirus (HPV) is increasingly recognized in HNSCC carcinogenesis.
• HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 disrupt tumor suppressor proteins p53 and pRB, respectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the biological and clinical aspects of HPV-associated HNSCC.
• To discuss common HPV detection techniques.
• To inform anatomic pathologists about the growing clinical relevance of HPV in HNSCC.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on HPV-associated HNSCC.
• Discussion of molecular markers (p53, p16) indicative of HPV involvement.
• Overview of HPV detection methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

Main Results:

• HPV is detected in about 25% of HNSCCs, with rates up to 40% in oropharyngeal cancers.
• HPV type 16 accounts for the majority of HPV-related HNSCCs.
• HPV-positive HNSCCs exhibit a distinct molecular profile (absence of p53 mutations, p16 expression) and are linked to better prognosis and radiation response.

Conclusions:

• HPV plays a significant role in a subset of HNSCCs.
• HPV testing is becoming crucial for HNSCC diagnosis and management.
• Anatomic pathologists need to be proficient in HPV detection methods and understanding HPV-associated HNSCC characteristics.