Two types of squamous cell carcinoma of the palatine tonsil characterized by distinct etiology, molecular features and outcome.
To determine whether human papillomaviruses (HPV) positive tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent a specific entity, we studied the prevalence of HPV association and of tobacco/alcohol exposure in a series of 52 cases of tonsillar SCC cases. p53, p16, and pRb levels, deregulated by viral oncoproteins were assessed. Forty patients reported tobacco/alcohol exposure, 10 reported no exposure. HPV DNA was found in 32/52 (62%) cases, (HPV16 genotype in 27). All patients with no history of tobacco-alcohol exposure presented HPV positive tumor (p=0.0008). A strong correlation was observed between positive HPV status, decrease in pRB and increase in p16 expression level. 5 year overall survival rate was higher in HPV16 positive patients than in HPV negative (71% versus 36%; p=0.023). HPV status remained a significant prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. Tonsillar SCC can thus be divided in HPV positive and negative subgroups with different oncogenesis and response to treatment.
Department of Tumor Biology, Institut Curie 26 rue d'Ulm 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Lamia
L
Charfi
Thomas
T
Jouffroy
Patricia
P
de Cremoux
Nelly
N
Le Peltier
Martine
M
Thioux
Paul
P
Fréneaux
Daniel
D
Point
Angélique
A
Girod
José
J
Rodriguez
Xavier
X
Sastre-Garau
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011379:Prognosis; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53