title: Is there an increased risk of cancer among spouses of patients with an HPV-related cancer: A systematic review.
abstract: High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) are the cause of most ano-genital cancers and a fast growing subset of oropharyngeal cancer. As these malignancies occur as a result of an HPV- infection transmitted through intimate contact, many patients with HPV- induced cancer and their partners are concerned about HPV-transmission and the potential partners' cancer risk. Few studies have addressed this issue and whether the HPV-related cancer risk of partners of patients with HPV-related cancers is comparable to or greater than that of the general population.
  
  
  
  We performed a systematic review of the published literature addressing this issue. Out of 1055 references screened, 53 articles were found eligible for inclusion.
  
  
  
  Regarding the issue of coincidence of HPV-induced oropharyngeal and/or anogenital cancers in couples, 13 case-reports or case-series were reported and 9 larger studies based on population-registries. Four of these registry studies showed an increased risk of cervical cancer in the partner while four did not. Among the four positive studies, odds ratios for the development of HPV-related cancer among spouses were between 2.6 and 6.7. One study showed an increased risk of tongue or tonsil cancer among husbands of women with cervical dysplasia or cancer. Overall the absolute risk increase in all these studies was small, on the order of 1-3%, although potentially underestimated. Indeed, all these studies have assessed partner's cancer risk at only one anatomical site whereas HPV- related malignancies can affect different locations.
  
  
  
  This systematic review suggests a small trend of increase risk in HPV-associated cancers among spouses of patients with HPV-related cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, Villejuif, France. Electronic address: haitham.mirghani@gustaveroussy.fr.
authors.forename: Haitham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Erich M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sturgis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aupérin
authors.affiliation: Institute of the Cervix, 75017 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monsonego
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 114 rue Edouard Vaillant, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018454:Spouses
keywords: Cancer(s); Cervical/cervix; Consort(s); Couple(s); Human papillomavirus (HPV); Husband(s); Neoplasm(s); Oral/oropharynx/oropharyngeal; Partner(s); Penis/penile; Spouse(s); Wife (ves)