Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Jun 21:cebp.0016.2021. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0016. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tobacco or human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) represent different clinical and epidemiological entities. This study investigated the prevalence of HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC in a reference cancer hospital in Brazil and its association with clinical and demographic data, as well as its impact on overall survival.
METHODS: HPV infection was determined by p16-immunohistochemistry (p16-IHC) in pre-treatment FFPE samples from all OPSCC patients diagnosed at Barretos Cancer Hospital between 2008 and 2018. The prevalence of HPV-positive cases and its temporal trend was assessed, and the association of clinical and demographic data with HPV infection and the impact on patient overall survival was evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 797 OPSCC patients were included in the study. The prevalence of HPV-associated tumors in the period was 20.6% (95% CI: 49.3-54.4) with a significant trend for increase of HPV-positive cases over the years (APC = 12.87). In a multivariate analysis, the variables gender, level of education, smoking, tumor sub-location, region of Brazil and tumor staging had a significant impact in HPV positivity and a greater overall survival (OS) was observed in HPV-positive patients (5-year OS: 47.9% versus 22.0%; p-value = 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest cohort of Brazilian OPSCC patients characterized according to HPV status. We report significant differences in demographics and clinical presentation according to HPV status, and an increasing trend in prevalence for HPV-induced tumors.
IMPACT: These findings can potentially contribute to a better stratification and management of patients as well as assist in prevention strategies.
PMID:34155066 | DOI:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0016
