Human papillomavirus-associated adenocarcinoma of the base of tongue: potentially actionable genetic changes

While human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive squamous and adenosquamous carcinomas of the oropharynx have been well characterized, HPV-associated pure adenocarcinomas are exceptionally rare. Herein we report the clinicopathologic features of one such HPV-associated adenocarcinoma of the base of tongue (BOT). A 70 year-old male presented with a 2.8 cm base of tongue mass and lymphadenopathy. Immunohistochemically, the adenocarcinoma was p63 negative and p16 positive. HPV positivity was shown by in situ hybridization. Features of salivary type tumor or metastasis from a distant primary were absent. IonTorrent™ semiconductor sequencing analysis for 739 cancer-associated mutations in 46 actionable cancer genes was performed and PIK3CA exon 9 (p.E545K) and MET exon 2 (p.E168D) mutations were identified. No PIK3CA or MET amplification was identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization. A re-review of archival HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (n = 89, 1983-2013) showed no additional cases of adenocarcinoma. The clinical follow-up for the three previously reported cases of HPV-associated adenocarcinoma of the BOT was updated. All previously reported cases were tested and were negative for PIK3CA exon 9 and 20 and MET exon 2 mutations. These findings offer a molecular basis for potential therapeutic use of PIK3CA inhibitors in a subset of patients with HPV-associated adenocarcinoma of BOT.