HPV16 transmission between a couple with HPV-related head and neck cancer.
Although squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is closely linked to tobacco and alcohol use, there is an increasing incidence HPV16-related SCCHN arising in the oropharynx. The mechanisms of viral transmission, carcinogenesis and natural history are not well understood. Here, we report a couple-husband and wife diagnosed synchronously with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck wherein the tumors were positive for HPV16 by PCR diagnosis. Both viral genomes were genetically identical and closely related to the revised European prototype, HPV16R. An uncommon signal variant nucleotide was identified in both genomes that is not present in the HPV16R. These tumors likely represent transmission between the couple.
Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Robert_haddad@dfci.harvard.edu
Robert
R
Haddad
Christopher
C
Crum
Zigui
Z
Chen
Jeffrey
J
Krane
Marshall
M
Posner
Yi
Y
Li
Robert
R
Burk
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018454:Spouses; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral