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


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Academic medical center in Paris, France.


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


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that human papillomavirus may play a role in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in nonsmokers.
Fouret
P
P
Laboratoire Central d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France.
Monceaux
G
G
Temam
S
S
Lacourreye
L
L
St Guily
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral