Clinical Manifestation And Molecular Characteristics Of Human Papilloma Virus Infection In Head And Neck Cancer

Purpose:To analyze the clinical manifestation and molecular characteristics of human papilloma virus infection in head and neck cancer.Methods and materials:From Jan.2010to Jun.2011, totally139patients with head and neck cancer treated in our radiotherapy department were enrolled in our study, they were all pathologically diagnosed. Specimens were collected from the mucosa of local tumor with a conical cytology brush, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in these specimens by Hybrid Capture Ⅱ (HC-Ⅱ). All the clinical medical records of these patients were collected.Results:Of the139cases, there were10cases of oropharyngeal cancer(OPC) patients,106cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients. HPV was positive in14cases, the HPV-positive rate was10.1%. HPV infection was common in OPC (P=0.000). The expressions of HPV in OPC and NPC patients were5cases (50%),7cases (7.1%), respectively. HPV-16positive rate was44%. HPV infection was more common in smokers than non-smokers of OPC patients, the HPV infected rate was100%、17%, respectively (P=0.048). HPV infection was significantly correlated with older patients of NPC,and higher complete remission rate of head and neck cancer patients or OPC patients. According to WHO2003NPC Pathological grading standards, there were3cases(2.8%) of Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma among the NPC patients, they were all from North China, older than50years, EBV positive, and HPV negative.Conclusions:HPV infectionmay be one of the main pathogenic risk factors for OPC.The relationship betweenHPV and NPC’s etiology need to be furtherconfirmed.It may be feasible to detect the HPV expression by usingHybrid Capture test (HC-Ⅱ) technical forOPC patients,but this techniqueneedsto enhance the skills and experience ofphysicians.