title: Human Papillomavirus and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case-Control Study regarding Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption.
abstract: We aimed to determine the role of HPV in the pathogenesis and outcome of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in lifelong nonsmoking and nondrinking patients. A case-case analysis was performed to compare the presence of HPV-DNA in tumor cells of 16 nonsmoking and nondrinking with 16 matched smoking and drinking patients (matching criteria: age at incidence, gender, tumor sublocation, tumor stage). HPV was detected using 2 PCR tests, FISH analysis, and p16(INK4A) immunostaining. Nonsmoking and nondrinking patients had more HPV-positive tumors than smoking and drinking patients (n = 12; 75% versus n = 2; 13%; P < 0.001). All HPV-positive tumors showed p16(INK4A) overexpression, and 1 HPV-negative tumor had p16(INK4A) overexpression, (P < 0.001). Overall survival and disease-specific survival were higher for HPV-positive compared to HPV-negative cases (P = 0.027, P = 0.039, resp.). In conclusion, HPV is strongly associated with OSCC of nonsmoking and nondrinking patients. Specific diagnostic and therapeutic actions should be considered for these patients to achieve a better prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farshadpour
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.forename: E J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Speel
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hordijk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koole
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Blokland
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slootweg
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kummer