Human papillomavirus infection as a risk factor for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs), especially HPV type 16 (HPV-16), cause anogenital epithelial cancers and are suspected of causing epithelial cancers of the head and neck.


METHODS
To examine the relation between head and neck cancers and HPVs, we performed a nested case-control study within a joint Nordic cohort in which serum samples were collected from almost 900,000 subjects. Samples collected at enrollment from 292 persons in whom squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck developed, on average, 9.4 years after enrollment and from 1568 matched controls were analyzed for antibodies against HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-33, and HPV-73 and for cotinine levels as a marker of smoking habits. Polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) analyses for HPV DNA were performed in tumor tissue from 160 of the study patients with cancer.


RESULTS
After adjustment for cotinine levels, the odds ratio for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck in subjects who were seropositive for HPV-16 was 2.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 3.4). No increased risk was observed for other HPV types. Fifty percent of oropharyngeal and 14 percent of tongue cancers contained HPV-16 DNA, according to PCR analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
HPV-16 infection may be a risk factor for squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Mork
J
J
Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo. jon.mork@ioks.uio.no
Lie
A K
AK
Glattre
E
E
Hallmans
G
G
Jellum
E
E
Koskela
P
P
Møller
B
B
Pukkala
E
E
Schiller
J T
JT
Youngman
L
L
Lehtinen
M
M
Dillner
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003367:Cotinine