title: The Presence of HPV DNA in Neck Lymph Node Metastasis Correlates with Improved Overall Survival of Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer Undergoing Surgical Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have addressed how human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) affects the outcome of surgical therapy; furthermore, the relationship between the presence of HPV DNA and neck lymph node (LN) metastasis has not been well established.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 65 patients who underwent surgery as a first-line therapy for OPSCC were enrolled in this study. In HPV-positive patients, the presence of HPV DNA in metastatic neck LN lesions was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HPV-positive patients had significantly better overall survival than the HPV-negative patients (log-rank test, p = 0.04), whereas HPV infection status did not significantly affect disease-free survival (log-rank test, p = 0.65). In all of the HPV-positive OPSCC patients who developed cervical LN metastasis, the same HPV DNA type was found in both the primary tumour and the metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that HPV infection is a determining factor for good prognosis in patients undergoing first-line surgical therapy for OPSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shimura
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hama
authors.forename: Toshihito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urashima
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral