Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of tonsillar cancer reveals a different pattern of genomic imbalances in human papillomavirus-positive and -negative tumors.
Our aim was to map and compare genomic imbalances in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -negative squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsil. Twenty-five primary carcinomas were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. Fifteen (60%) were found to be HPV-positive by PCR, and the majority were HPV-16. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of DNA gains and losses between the HPV-positive and -negative samples. Eleven of 15 HPV-positive samples (73%) showed gain on chromosome 3q24-qter, while only 4/10 (40%) HPV-negative samples had the same gain (p = 0.049). Furthermore, 4/10 (40%) HPV-negative samples but no HPV-positive samples had gain on chromosome 7q11.2-q22 (p = 0.017). As expected, and similar to previous studies, patients with an HPV-positive tumor had a statistically significantly better disease-specific survival than patients with an HPV-negative tumor (p = 0.002). The most common changes, e.g., gain on 3q or 8q, loss on 11q or 13 and loss on chromosome 7q in HPV-negative tumors, did not have any influence on prognosis. However the number of cases in each subgroup was limited.
Dahlgren
Liselotte
L
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Liselotte.Dahlgren@cck.ki.se
Mellin
Hanna
H
Wangsa
Danny
D
Heselmeyer-Haddad
Kerstin
K
Björnestål
Linda
L
Lindholm
Johan
J
Munck-Wikland
Eva
E
Auer
Gert
G
Ried
Thomas
T
Dalianis
Tina
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral