Human papillomavirus is a favourable prognostic factor in tonsillar cancer and its oncogenic role is supported by the expression of E6 and E7.
From 1970 to 2002 in the Stockholm area, we revealed a parallel three-fold increase in the incidence of tonsillar cancer and the proportion of human papillomavirus (HPV) positive tonsillar cancer cases, indicating a possible role of HPV infection in this disease. We have now examined whether HPV and viral load in pre-treatment tonsillar cancer biopsies correlates to disease prognosis, and whether the presence of HPV-16 E6 and E7 mRNA could be ascertained. The presence of HPV-16, but not viral load, in tonsillar cancer was shown to be a favourable prognostic factor for clinical outcome. Moreover, E6 and/or E7 were expressed in almost all assessable HPV-16 positive cases, supporting an oncogenic role of HPV-16 in tonsillar cancer.
Lindquist
David
D
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Romanitan
Mircea
M
Hammarstedt
Lalle
L
Näsman
Anders
A
Dahlstrand
Hanna
H
Lindholm
Johan
J
Onelöv
Liselotte
L
Ramqvist
Torbjörn
T
Ye
Weimin
W
Munck-Wikland
Eva
E
Dalianis
Tina
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral