title: The role of human papillomavirus in head and neck cancer in Senegal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exploring the presence and role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancer (HNC) is a necessary step to evaluate the potential impact of HPV prophylactic vaccines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and oncogenic role of HPV in HNC in Senegal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicenter cross-sectional study. Paraffin-embedded blocks of cases diagnosed with invasive HNC between 2002 and 2010 were collected from 4 pathology laboratories in Senegal. Presence of HPV DNA was determined by PCR and DEIA, and genotyping performed with LiPA25. Tubulin analysis was performed to assess DNA quality. HPV DNA-positive cases were tested for p16INK4a expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 117 cases were included in the analysis: 71% were men, mean age was 52 years old (SD ±18.3), and 96% of cases were squamous cell carcinoma. Analysis was performed on 41 oral cavity tumors, 64 laryngeal tumors, 5 oropharyngeal tumors and 7 pharyngeal tumors. Only four cases (3.4%; 95% CI = 0.9%-8.5%) harbored HPV DNA. HPV types detected were HPV16, HPV35 and HPV45. However, among HPV-positive cases, none showed p16INK4a overexpression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that HPV DNA prevalence in HNC in Senegal is very low, suggesting that HPV is not a strong risk factor for these cancers. Additional larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore other potential risk factors specific to the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Room A-830, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada. cathy.ndiaye@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alemany
authors.forename: Yankhoba
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diop
authors.forename: Nafissatou
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Marie-Joseph
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Diémé
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tous
authors.forename: Jo Ellen
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Klaustermeier
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alejo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Castellsagué
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: Silvia de
authors.initials: Sd
authors.lastname: Sanjosé