title: [The role of oncogenic human papillomaviruses in tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas with functional inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein].
abstract: In order to identify squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) with common biological and clinical features, we investigated the incidence and properties of carcinomas lacking retinoblastoma protein (pR6) cell cycle control. Of 208 HNSCC investigated, 23 (11%) showed a lack of pRb expression. The majority of these tumors (65%) were tonsillar carcinomas. The pRb-negative tonsillar tumors were all stage IV, had metastasized to lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis and were in general poorly differentiated or undifferentiated. Very significantly, the pRb-negative phenotype was strongly associated with the presence of oncogenic human papilloma viruses, implying a viral etiology and functional inactivation of pRb by the viral E7 oncoprotein. Despite the very adverse histopathological factors, patients with pRb-negative tonsillar carcinomas had a better clinical outcome, which was consistent with a uniform favorable responsiveness of these tumors to postoperative radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-HNO-Kinik, Heidelberg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helbig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klein-Kühne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conradt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Bosch
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16