Human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in nonsmokers

To establish relationships between smoking status and human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Human papillomavirus was detected in paraffin-embedded samples using E6-directed consensus primers and type-specific oligonucleotide probes. Patients were classified as smokers and nonsmokers. Alcohol use was also recorded. Data were analyzed by means of the Fisher exact test. Sequence analysis of exons 5 to 8 of the p53 gene was performed in tumor samples from nonsmokers.

Academic medical center in Paris, France.

One hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The overall prevalence of human papillomaviral infection was 10.7%. Human papillomavirus occurred more frequently (P = .02) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (18.6%) than in other locations (6.1%). There were 10 nonsmokers (5%). The 50% incidence of human papillomavirus in nonsmokers (95% confidence interval, 19%-81%) differed significantly from the 8.5% incidence in smokers (95% confidence interval, 5%-14%; P = .003). No occupational risk factor was recorded in nonsmokers. None of these patients had p53 gene mutations in cancer cells.

These findings suggest that human papillomavirus may play a role in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in nonsmokers.