HPV-16/18 detection does not affect the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in younger and older patients

Abstract

Recently, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has emerged as a possible agent associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in younger patients. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of age on the distribution of HPV-16/18 in HNSCC, together with the impact of the virus on patient prognosis. A longitudinal prospective study was used adjusted for age, gender, TNM staging, smoking status and alcohol consumption. HPV was detected by PCR with consensus primers. Results showed there was no difference in the frequency of HPV-16/18 positivity when younger patients were compared to the older patients. No association was found among high-risk HPV positivity, gender, smoking habit and anatomical site. High-risk HPV was associated with advanced TNM in bivariate analyses; however, it did not impact on survival. Only TNM staging was associated with risk of mortality. Our study supports the theory that age does not affect the presence of HPV-16/18 in HNSCC and has no impact on patient prognosis. The incidence of HNSCC among patients under the age of 45 years is reportedly on the increase worldwide. The factors associated with HNSCC in younger adults are not well established. Findings of this study indicate that HPV-16/18 may not play a role in HNSCC patients under the age of 45 years.

Figure 1

A) PCR for HPV-16. Lane 1, 100-bp molecular marker. Lane 2, HPV-16-positive (217 bp). (B) PCR for HPV-18. Lane 1, 100-bp molecular marker. Lane 2, HPV-18-positive (100 bp). PCR, polymerase chain reaction; HPV, human papillomavirus.

Table I

The distribution of clinical parameters.

Table II

The distribution of clinical and molecular parameters according to a positive HPV status.

Table III

Cox regression analyses in HNSCC patients with a follow-up of 2,500 days.