Viral load, physical status, and E6/E7 mRNA expression of human papillomavirus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively both human papillomavirus (HPV) load and physical status in different types of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
HPV DNA, E6/E7 mRNA expression, viral load, and physical status of 184 patients with HNSCC were examined simultaneously by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods.


RESULTS
The HPV genome was detected in 54 HNSCC samples (29.3%), particularly in tonsillar carcinomas (69.6%). Compared with nonoropharyngeal HNSCC, oropharyngeal carcinoma harbored a relatively higher viral load, especially in tonsillar carcinoma. Although integrated or mixed status was observed in 75.6% of HPV-16-positive samples, E6/E7 mRNA transcripts were detected in only 27.5% of HPV DNA-positive cases. High HPV-16 load correlated significantly with E6/E7 mRNA expression.


CONCLUSIONS
E6/E7 mRNA expression in patients with HNSCC with low viral load remains low even in cases of integration to the host genome. Tonsillar carcinomas were significantly associated with HPV among various types of HNSCC.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. jordandzy@hotmail.com
Zeyi
Z
Deng
Masahiro
M
Hasegawa
Asanori
A
Kiyuna
Sen
S
Matayoshi
Takayuki
T
Uehara
Shinya
S
Agena
Yukashi
Y
Yamashita
Kazuhiko
K
Ogawa
Hiroyuki
H
Maeda
Mikio
M
Suzuki
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral; C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins