Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in relation to anatomical site of the tumour.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence and role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the aetiology of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is uncertain. Based on the presence of HPV in the oral cavity and its causal association with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, we hypothesised that HPV is more strongly associated with proximal than distal oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
A population-based study comparing HPV infection in relation to tumour site in patients diagnosed with oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas in the Stockholm County in 1999-2006. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction genotyping (PCR) with Luminex was conducted on pre-treatment endoscopic biopsies to identify type specify HPV. Carcinogenic activity of HPV was assessed by p16(INK4a) expression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
Among 204 patients, 20 (10%) had tumours harbouring HPV DNA, almost all (90%) of HPV high-risk type, mainly HPV16. Tumours containing HPV were not overrepresented in the upper compared to the middle or lower third of the oesophagus (odds ratio 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.2-1.9). P16(INK4a) expression was similarly common (24% and 16%) in the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found a limited presence of HPV in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma of uncertain oncogenic relevance and did not demonstrate that HPV was more strongly associated with proximal than distal tumours.
Upper Gastrointestinal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. hedvig.lofdahl@ki.se
Hedvig E
HE
Löfdahl
Juan
J
Du
Anders
A
Näsman
Emilia
E
Andersson
Carlos A
CA
Rubio
Yunxia
Y
Lu
Torbjörn
T
Ramqvist
Tina
T
Dalianis
Jesper
J
Lagergren
Hanna
H
Dahlstrand
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral