Human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas: primary tumor burden and survival in surgical patients.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether the primary tumor burden in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is lower in tumors positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) or in tumors with a smoking- or alcohol-related cause.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients at our institution who had squamous cell carcinoma of the palatine tonsils, base of tongue, soft palate, or pharynx from 1995 through 2006. The patients underwent primary surgical therapy. The main outcome measures were the HPV status of tumors and nodes and the survival rates (categorized by HPV status).


RESULTS
Of 102 treated patients, 48 (47.1%) had HPV-positive carcinomas. Primary tumor size was not significantly different between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors (median, 2.5 versus 2.0 cm; p = 0.43). Patients with HPV had a higher prevalence of neck nodal metastases (35% versus 11%; p = 0.003) and high-grade lesions (83% versus 64%; p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Primary tumor burden was not associated with HPV status. Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas had a higher prevalence of neck nodal metastases and high-grade lesions.
Ukpo
Odey C
OC
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Pritchett
Cedric V
CV
Lewis
Jean E
JE
Weaver
Amy L
AL
Smith
David I
DI
Moore
Eric J
EJ
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D047368:Tumor Burden