title: Differences in human papillomavirus-positive and -negative head and neck cancers in Belgium: an 8-year retrospective, comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and compared patient profiles and outcomes between HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included all patients treated for OPSCC in the University Hospitals of Leuven between 2004 and 2012. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was available for all patients. Patient characteristics, treatment, and follow-up data were retrieved from medical files. HPV status was determined by immunohistochemical staining for the p16 epitope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 94 patients, the prevalence of HPV-positive OPSCC was 22.34%. Compared with HPV-negative tumors, HPV-positive tumors were correlated with less smoking and alcohol consumption, tonsillar sublocalization (P < .05), and younger age. HPV-positive OPSCC was associated with better overall survival (62.2%) compared with HPV-negative OPSCC (42.5%; P = .0588).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with OPSCC, those with HPV exhibited profiles different from those without HPV. HPV-positive OPSCC was associated with better overall survival compared with HPV-negative OPSCC. HPV-positive OPSCC prevalence increased over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Koenraadgrisar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Koenraad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grisar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ruveyda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dok
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoenaers
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Titiaan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dormaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hauben
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorissen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Constantinus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Politis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor