Human papillomavirus in head and neck tumors: epidemiological, molecular and clinical aspects.
High-risk types of human papillomaviruses (HR HPV) play an important role in the etiology of a group of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC). This review is focused on epidemiological, molecular, and clinical aspects of HPV infection in head and neck cancer. High risk HPV DNA is being detected in a very different proportion of HNSCC with the highest prevalence in oropharynx. Patients with HPV-associated tumors are characterized by moderate tobacco and alcohol consumption. Some aspects of sexual behavior may represent a risk factor. Recently, it has been shown that HPV infection is spreading and the rising prevalence of HPV-positive tumors can probably be attributed to this epidemic. On molecular level the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 were shown to be involved in oncogenesis. HPV-positive cancers have better prognosis and HPV status should be considered in clinical decision-making. The rising proportion of HPV-positive tumors underlines the importance of HPV vaccination also for the prevention of HNSCC.
Klozar
Jan
J
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. jan.klozar@lfmotol.cuni.cz.
Tachezy
Ruth
R
Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.
Rotnáglová
Eliška
E
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.|Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.
Košlabová
Eva
E
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.|Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.
Saláková
Martina
M
Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.
Hamšíková
Eva
E
Department of Experimental Virology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D016679:Genome, Viral; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins