title: Validation of methods for oropharyngeal cancer HPV status determination in US cooperative group trials.
abstract: Tumor human papillomavirus (HPV) status is a prognostic factor for oropharyngeal cancer, but classification methods are not standardized. Here we validate the HPV classification methods used in US cooperative group trials. Tumor DNA and RNA purified from 240 paraffin-embedded oropharyngeal cancers diagnosed from 2000 to 2009 were scored as evaluable if positive for DNA and mRNA controls by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Eighteen high-risk (HR) HPV types were detected in tumors by consensus PCR, followed by HR-HPV E6/7 oncogene expression analysis by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. The sensitivity (S), specificity (SP), and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of p16 expression detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HPV16 detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) were evaluated in comparison with HR-HPV E6/7 oncogene expression. Interrater agreement among 3 pathologists was evaluated by κ statistics. Of 235 evaluable tumors, 158 (67%; 95% confidence interval, 61.2-73.3) were positive for HR-HPV E6/7 oncogene expression [HPV type 16 (92%), 18 (3%), 33 (3%), 35 (1%), or 58 (1%)]. p16 IHC had high sensitivity (S 96.8%, SP 83.8%, PPV 92.7%, and NPV 92.5%), whereas HPV16 ISH had high specificity (S 88.0%, SP 94.7%, PPV 97.2%, and NPV 78.9%) for HR-HPV oncogene expression. Interrater agreement was excellent for p16 (κ=0.95 to 0.98) and HPV16 ISH (κ=0.83 to 0.91). Receiver operating curve analysis determined the cross-product of p16 intensity score and percentage of tumor staining to optimally discriminate HR-HPV E6/7-positive and HR-HPV E6/7-negative tumors. p16 IHC and HPV16 ISH assays show excellent performance, with high sensitivity and specificity, respectively. A new validated H-score for p16 IHC assessment is proposed. Appropriate assay choice depends on clinical implications of a false-positive or false-negative test.
authors: Departments of Orofacial Sciences, Pathology & Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors: Richard C
authors: RC
authors: Jordan
authors: Mark W
authors: MW
authors: Lingen
authors: Bayardo
authors: B
authors: Perez-Ordonez
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Pickard
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Koluder
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Jiang
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Wakely
authors: Weihong
authors: W
authors: Xiao
authors: Maura L
authors: ML
authors: Gillison
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D005404:Fixatives; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16; D005557:Formaldehyde