title: MHC class I expression in HPV positive and negative tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma in correlation to clinical outcome.
abstract: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important factor for the development of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). In addition, patients with HPV-positive TSCC have a better clinical outcome than patients with HPV-negative TSCC. Although, HPV is an important prognostic marker, additional biomarkers are needed to better predict clinical outcome to individualize treatment. Hence, we examined if classical HLA HLA-A,B,C and nonclassical HLA-E,G could serve as such marker. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded TSCC from 150 patients diagnosed 2000-2006, earlier analyzed for HPV DNA and p16(INK4a), and treated with intention to cure were evaluated for the expression of HLA-A,B,C and HLA-E,G by immunohistochemistry. For HPV-positive TSCC a low expression of HLA-A,B,C, whereas for HPV-negative TSCC, a normal expression of HLA-A,B,C was significantly correlated to a favorable clinical outcome. These correlations were more pronounced for membrane staining of HLA-A,B,C when compared with cytoplasmatic staining. No significant correlation was found between HLA-E,G and HPV status or clinical outcome. The unexpected contrasting correlation between HLA-A,B,C expression, and clinical outcome depending on HPV, indicates essential differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative TSCC. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that for both HPV-positive and HPV-negative TSCC, the expression of HLA-A,B,C together with HPV may serve as a useful biomarker for predicting clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. anders.nasman@ki.se
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Näsman
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nordfors
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grün
authors.forename: Hemming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munck-Wikland
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massucci
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalianis
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramqvist
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000614131:CDKN2A protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins