HPV 16 in Pathogenesis of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Tumors

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the worlds most widely sexually transmitted disease. HPV infection play also an important role in the etiopathogenesis of head and neck cancers, especially oropharynx.

In a prospective study of 236 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper aerodigestive tract (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx), the incidence of p16 positivity in tumor tissue and its relationship to tumor localization, occurrence of risk factors (smoking, alcohol, and sexual behavior), histopathological findings, and stage of disease were analyzed.

Smoking and alcohol abuse were observed in 72% of patients with SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract. Risky sexual behavior was present only in the group of patients with orofaryngeal SCC (42%). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that p16 was present in 20% tumors of upper aerodigestive tract, most frequently in the oropharynx (30%). Patients with p16 positive orofaryngeal SCC were younger, and 94% of these pateints admitted risky sexual behavior. Smoking and regular alcohol consumption were more common in patients with p16 negative SCC of the oropharynx (90%).

HPV 16 infection plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of oropharyngeal carcinoma. In other locations of the upper aerodigestive tract, smoking and alcohol abuse are major risk factors. Determination of HPV status in oropharyngeal SCC is an integral part of histopathological examinations. Immunohistochemical detection of p16 protein expression in tumor tissue is considered sufficient to stratify patients into HPV positive/negative groups of oropharyngeal carcinoma. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.