title: Detection of human papilloma virus in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus planned for definitive chemo-radiotherapy, and a study of their clinical characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify the incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in squamous esophageal cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify high-risk (HR) HPV positivity rates in patients with squamous carcinoma esophagus and to compare their characteristics with HPV negative counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study, in which tumor biopsies of 18 consecutive patients with squamous carcinoma of the esophagus treated with definitive chemo-radiotherapy (CT-RT) were evaluated for the presence of HPV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor biopsies of 18 consecutive patients with squamous carcinoma esophagus treated with definitive CT-RT were assessed for presence of HR HPV DNA by hybrid DNA capture technique (Digene-HC2). The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of the two groups were then compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pearson's Chi-squared test, Kaplan-Mier survival curve/log rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (50%) tested positive for HR HPV. The clinical features including age, gender, grade, location, and tumor extent were similar between the two groups. All the three patients with residual disease at the end of treatment tested positive for HPV (P = 0.058). At a mean follow-up of 52 weeks, the estimated median recurrence free survival was 37 weeks (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.6-60.4) among HPV positive patients compared to 53 weeks (95% CI: 29.6-76.4 weeks) for the HPV negative (P = 0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be a high incidence of HPV among patients with squamous oesophageal cancer in coastal Karnataka. Further studies are required to evaluate its causative role and prognostic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Prakash Saxena
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Donald Jerard
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mamidipudi Srinivasa
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vidyasagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Anshul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral