Human papillomavirus infection and survival in oral squamous cell cancer: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 affects survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-four patients diagnosed with primary oral cancer were studied for survival in relation to tumor HPV type 16 status. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess survival and estimate hazard ratios adjusted for potential confounders.


RESULTS
HPV type 16 DNA was detected in 15.1% of tumors. HPV 16 positive patients had significantly reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] estimates = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.83) and disease-specific mortality (HR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04, 0.76) compared with HPV 16 negative patients after adjustment for age, stage, treatment, smoking, alcohol, education, and comorbid disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of HPV type 16 DNA is independently associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Although HPV genotyping is currently not widely available, it may provide important prognostic information.
Schwartz
S R
SR
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. schwarsr@u.washington.edu
Yueh
B
B
McDougall
J K
JK
Daling
J R
JR
Schwartz
S M
SM
D017677:Age Distribution; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015994:Incidence; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011336:Probability; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D004279:DNA, Viral