Human papillomavirus and WHO type I nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare cancer in the United States. An association between NPC and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is well-established for World Health Organization (WHO) types II and III (WHO-II/III) NPC but less well-established for WHO type I (WHO-I) NPC. Given the rise in oropharyngeal tumors positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and the unique biology of WHO-I NPC, we examined the relationship between HPV and WHO-I NPC.


METHODS
Retrospective case-comparison study.


METHODS
A search of a large multidisciplinary cancer center tumor registry identified 183 patients seen from January 1999 to December 2008 with incident NPC and no prior cancer. Available paraffin-embedded tumor specimens (N = 30) were analyzed for oncogenic HPV status by in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HPV-16 and HPV-18; EBV status by ISH; and p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. Demographic parameters, including race and smoking, were obtained from the medical records.


RESULTS
Among the 18 WHO-I NPC patients, 66% (N = 12) were smokers and 17% (N = 3) Asian; among the 165 WHO-II/III NPC patients, 44% (N = 73) were smokers and 24% (N = 39) Asian. Eight WHO-I NPC patients had available paraffin blocks; five of six were HPV-16-positive by PCR and four of eight were HPV-positive by ISH; only two of eight (25%) were EBV-positive. Twenty-two WHO-II/III NPC patients had available paraffin blocks; only 1 was HPV-positive by ISH, and 13 of 22 (60%) were EBV-positive.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that WHO-I NPC is associated with oncogenic HPV, although larger studies are needed to verify these findings. Laryngoscope, 2010.
Lo
Emily J
EJ
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030-4009, USA.
Bell
Diana
D
Woo
Jason S
JS
Li
Guojun
G
Hanna
Ehab Y
EY
El-Naggar
Adel K
AK
Sturgis
Erich M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D014944:World Health Organization
D004279:DNA, Viral
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