[Correlation between chronic hyperplastic laryngitis and infection with human papillomaviruses]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Oncology
• Virology

Context:

• Laryngeal cancer is a common head and neck tumor where early diagnosis is crucial for prognosis.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is increasingly linked to head and neck cancers, with HPV 16/18 found in 10-75% of tumors.
• The oncogenic potential of viral infection is influenced by exogenous and endogenous factors, but the prognosis of pre-malignant lesions remains unclear.

Purpose:

• To investigate if HPV 16/18 presence in laryngeal hyperplastic inflammation biopsies serves as a prognostic factor for subsequent malignancy.
• To analyze the association between HPV 16/18, alcohol consumption, and nicotine use in laryngeal cancer development.

Summary:

• A study examined 150 laryngeal biopsies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HPV 16/18.
• 91 patients tested positive for HPV 16/18. Three risk groups were identified: HPV 16/18 positive without irritants, HPV 16/18 positive smokers, and HPV 16/18 positive smokers with alcohol consumption.
• Over 3.5 years, one individual from each of the first two groups developed laryngeal cancer.

Impact:

• Identifies HPV 16/18 as a potential prognostic marker for laryngeal cancer.
• Highlights the synergistic risk of HPV 16/18 with smoking and alcohol consumption in laryngeal carcinogenesis.
• Provides insights into the progression of chronic laryngeal inflammation to malignancy.