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Published on: March 8, 2012
North-American survey on HPV-DNA and p16 testing for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Anastasios Maniakas1, Sami P Moubayed2, Tareck Ayad2
1Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada.
Objectives:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have been shown to have a significantly better prognosis and response to current treatment modalities. Current guidelines recommend systematic HPV-DNA and/or p16 testing on HNSCCs, although treatment approach should not be directed by test results. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess whether HPV-DNA and/or p16 status are systematically evaluated across North American otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons and (2) whether the status is used to direct treatment approach.
Materials And Methods:
A 15-question online survey was sent to three associations: the Association of Oto-rhino-laryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Quebec, the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the American Head and Neck Society.
Results:
Sixty-seven percent of respondents systematically test for HPV-DNA and/or p16 on HNSCC sites, while 58.3% report using test results to direct treatment for oropharyngeal cancers. A lack of official guidelines was the primary reason (81.8%) physicians did not use test results to direct treatment. Academic centre physicians (83.3%) and physicians with ⩾50% oncologic practice (87.6%) were more likely to test for HPV-DNA and/or p16 in HNSCC compared to non-academic centre physicians (39.7%) and physicians with <50% oncologic practices (51.4%) (p<0.001). Cost of the tests (69.2%), lack of relevance (46.1%) and time constraints (30.8%) were the primary reasons HPV-DNA and/or p16 were not tested.
Conclusion:
The majority of North American respondents in this survey systematically test for HPV-DNA and/or p16 in HNSCC sites, and most indicate that test results influence their treatment approach for oropharyngeal cancers.
