High-risk HPV and survival in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma – 5-year follow up of a population-based study

Abstract

Conclusion: No statistically significant 5-year survival difference was seen in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOPSCC) between high-risk HPV-positive and -negative groups in this population-based study. Objectives: To see if the formerly observed higher risk for recurrence or second primary tumour (SPT) in high-risk HPV-positive patients with OOPSCC corresponds to worse survival. Methods: A total of 128 consecutive, previously untreated patients with OOPSCC, who were part of a population-based case-control study in southern Sweden during 2000–2004, were included. A mouthwash sample was collected and exfoliated cells were collected with cotton-tipped swabs from the tonsillar fossa and the tumour. Specimens were analysed for HPV DNA using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Disease-specific survival (DSS) and DSS difference between HPV-negative and HPV-positive patients were calculated. The relationship between age, stage, high-risk HPV status and DSS was assessed. Oral and oropharyngeal tumours were assessed separately. Results: Mean DSS in months was 80.7/68.6 (high-risk HPV-negative/high-risk HPV-positive) for oral cavity tumours (p = 0.18) and 67.6/78.3 (high-risk HPV-negative/high-risk HPV-positive) for oropharyngeal tumours (p = 0.47). For oral cavity tumours, age, T status, N status and stage all showed significant differences in DSS. For oropharyngeal tumours, no significant difference regarding DSS was found.

Keywords::

• Oral cancer
• oropharyngeal cancer
• survival
• prognosis

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Swedish Cancer Society, the King Gustaf V Jubilee Fund, governmental funding of clinical research within the NHS, Region of Scania R&D funding, the Foundations of the University Hospital of Lund, the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Foundation, the Berta Kamprad Foundation for Investigation and Control of Cancer Diseases and the Laryngology Fund.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.