Possible role of human papilloma virus infection in response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in esophageal cancer cases has been found in 0-70%, depending on different methods and geographical variances. Complete pathological response has been found in 30% of cases after neoadjuvant chemo-radiation (CRX). The aim of this study was to discover a possible relation between HPV-infection and response.


METHODS
DNA was obtained from 26 esophageal cancer patients undergoing CRX and surgery. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern Blot hybridization was used to detect HPV-infection (HPV-16 and -18). Clinicopathological parameters, disease-free survival and overall survival were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Complete response (26.9%) and partial response (38.5%) after CRX was correlated significantly with better prognosis. Six patients had HPV-infection (3 from the CR- and 3 from PR-group).


CONCLUSIONS
There was correlation between HPV-infection and response, but further analyses are necessary. Both responder-groups had a significantly better prognosis than non-responders.
2nd Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary. bgabor@kut.sote.hu
Gabor
G
Bognar
Andreas
A
Imdahl
György
G
Ledniczky
Pal
P
Ondrejka
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis