Human papillomavirus-16 associated adenocarcinoma NOS of base of tongue.
The causative role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in a subset of squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx (OSCC) is now well established with HPV-16 being detected in approximately 92% of HPV-positive OSCC in North America. Recently HPV has also been found in some non-squamous oropharyngeal carcinomas including adenosquamous carcinomas, neuroendocrine carcinomas, and undifferentiated "lymphoepithelioma-like" carcinomas. Herein, we report a HPV-16 positive adenocarcinoma NOS arising in the base of the tongue of a non-smoker, 64 year-old male. To our knowledge, this is the first time this association has been clearly documented. The adenocarcinoma was diffusely positive for p16 and HPV-16 was demonstrated by in situ hybridization and linear array analysis. Q-PCR demonstrated a viral load of 4 copies per cancer cell, whereas qRT-PCR for E6/E7 transcript levels were 30 copies per 1,000 human ribosomal protein large P0 (RPLP0) reference gene. The presence of HPV in non-squamous oropharyngeal carcinomas raises the possibility that HPV is also involved in the carcinogenesis of some uncommon carcinomas of the region.
Department of Pathology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. Bayardo.Perez-Ordonez@uhn.ca
Bayardo
B
Perez-Ordoñez
Jonathan C
JC
Irish
Eugene S
ES
Yu
Maura L
ML
Gillison
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*