title: Human papillomavirus E7 serology and association with p16 immunohistochemistry in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer is associated with improved survival and treatment response as compared to HPV-negative cancers. P16 overexpression is widely accepted as a surrogate marker for HPV positivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 92 serum samples from 75 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients were examined for HPV16 and 18 E7 antibodies by ELISA. Available tissue was tested for HPV-DNA by PCR, and p16 immunohistochemistry was obtained from a deidentified database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 75 HNSCC patients, 25 were HPV E7 seropositive. Seropositivity was strongly associated with cancers of the oropharynx, and correlated with positive p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and HPV-DNA. Post-treatment serum was available in a limited subset of patients, revealing a decrease in antibody titers following response to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV E7 seropositivity correlated with positive tumor HPV-DNA and p16 expression, and was strongly associated with cancers of the oropharynx. E7 serology warrants further study as a potential biomarker in HPV-positive HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, United States; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, United States.
authors.forename: Sujita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khanal
authors.affiliation: James Graham Brown Cancer Center, United States; Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Joongho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.affiliation: Data Science for Knowledge Creation Research Center, Department of Statistics, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: James Graham Brown Cancer Center, United States.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahin
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Cesar Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, United States.
authors.forename: Neal Edward
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Dunlap
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, United States.
authors.forename: Craig L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 529 S. Jackson St., Louisville, KY, United States.
authors.forename: Paul Albert
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 529 S. Jackson St., Louisville, KY, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Goetz Haus
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kloecker
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 529 S. Jackson St., Louisville, KY, United States.
authors.forename: Jeffrey Milton
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bumpous
authors.affiliation: James Graham Brown Cancer Center, United States; Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Shin-je
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ghim
authors.affiliation: James Graham Brown Cancer Center, United States.
authors.forename: Alfred Bennett
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jenson
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Department of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: raredm01@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Redman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal carcinoma; Serum HPV E7 antibodies; p16 immunohistochemistry