title: Human papillomavirus types in cases of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in Colombia.
abstract: Estimating the type-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is helpful in predicting the impact of HPV immunization.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the overall prevalence, and gender and age-specific prevalence of HPV in HNSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional retrospective study was carried out in four pathology laboratories of Medellin, Colombia. HPV testing was performed by GP5+/6+ PCR-based RLB and HPV 16 and 18 type-specific PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  175 primary HNSCC cases consecutively diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 with confirmed diagnosis and amplifiable DNA were included. Overall HPV prevalence was 18.9%. HPV was found in 23.9%, 17.5% and 13.3% of the oral cavity, larynx and oropharynx cases respectively. Among HPV positive cases, 82% were HPV 16 and 18% were HPV 18. No other HPV genotypes were identified. Most patients were males. Male patients were younger that their female counterparts, particularly in oral cavity cancer cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV 16 and 18 genotypes were found in nearly 20% of HNSCC cases in Colombian patients. The impact of HPV vaccination for the prevention of HNSCC in this population deserves further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Infection and Cancer Group, Medical School, University of Antioquia, UdeA, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baena
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Efrain
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Gloria I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral