title: Risk factors and survival by HPV-16 E6 and E7 antibody status in human papillomavirus positive head and neck cancer.
abstract: High-risk human papillomavirus types (HPV-HR) are associated with head and neck cancer (HNC) risk and better survival. Most patients with HPV-HR DNA-positive tumors develop anti-HPV E6/E7 antibodies; however, it is unclear whether those who mount an immune response have similar risk factors or clinical outcomes as those who do not. HPV-16 DNA tumor-positive HNC cases were evaluated for HPV-16 E6 and E7 antibodies using a GST capture ELISA system. Among 57 HPV-16 DNA tumor-positive HNC cases, 67% were detected with HPV-16 E6 and/or E7 antibodies. Male gender (76% vs. 42%, p = 0.02), younger age (63% vs. 16%, p = 0.001) but not tobacco or alcohol were associated with E6 and/or E7 seropositivity. Seropositivity was associated more often with late stage (76%), poor grade (65%), positive nodes (82%). and in the oropharynx (82%), Median disease-specific and recurrence-free survival were longer in E6 and/or E7 seropositive compared to E6/E7-negative cases (2.2 years vs. 1.4 years, both outcomes), although results were not statistically significant. When examined jointly with p16 expression, E6 and/or E7-positive/p16-positive cases had better disease-specific (2.1 years vs. 1.1 years, p = 0.06) and recurrence-free (2.3 years vs. 1.1 years, p = 0.03) survival compared to E6-/E7-/p16- cases. These findings suggest there are 2 distinct HNC patient groups with HPV DNA-positive tumors, distinguishable by E6 and/or E7 antibody status. Differences in antibody status are associated with distinct risk factors and clinical outcomes. This information can be available as a simple blood test at initial presentation, before the removal of tissue through biopsy or surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. elaine-smith@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlita
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamsikova
authors.forename: Lubomir P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Turek
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16