Prevalence and characteristics of HPV infection in oropharyngeal cancer
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Updated: May 14, 2026

Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Published on: June 14, 2019
Antonella De Stefani1, Paolo Boffano, Gianluca Averono
1Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Ospedale Umberto I, Turin, Italy.
Background:
The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status and its impact on the outcome in a consecutive series of patients affected by oropharyngeal cancer.
Methods:
The specimens of consecutive subjects surgically treated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained. Samples were collected by broom-type cell sampling devices and they underwent the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test to identify the presence of HPV types.
Results:
In all, 52 patients were enrolled. The presence of HPV was detected in 13 samples, with HPV type 16 as the most frequently encountered type. Statistically significant associations were found between HPV-positive patients and a higher tumor grading (P < 0.05), and between HPV-positive patients and a higher number of negative prognostic factors (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
A subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas with a higher tumor grading is strongly linked to HPV16 infection.
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