The role of human papillomavirus in head and neck cancer and the impact on radiotherapy outcome

Abstract

Conclusion: HPV + HNSCC patients have improved Overall Survival (OS), Disease Specific Survival (DSS), Disease Free Survival (DFS), and Progression Free Survival (PFS). The radiotherapy treatment can’t improve the Survival of the HPV-negative HNSCC patients.

Objective: To investigate the role of Human papillomavirus in head and neck cancer and the impact on radiotherapy outcome.

Methods: A search in PubMed and Chinese CNKI (2000–2015) was performed. This meta-analysis was done using RevMan 5.1 software. Outcomes included OS, DSS, DFS, PFS, and Treatment responses rates (RR).

Results: A total of 2620 patients in 10 studies were included. The Positive detective rates of HPV and P16 are 32.5% (425/1309) and 42.5% (526/1239). OS and PFS were improved in HPV + patients compared to HPV − patients (HR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.37–0.62, p < 0.0001) and (HR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.31–0.78, p < 0.0001). The survival benefit was similar in HPV-16 + patients (adjusted HR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.21–0.60, p < 0.0001). The DFS of P16 + patients improved (HR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.55–0.89, p < 0.0001). The treatment response of p16 + patients didn’t significantly improve compared with p16− patients (HR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.01–2.05, p = 0.05).

Keywords:

• Head and neck cancer
• human papillomavirus
• radiotherapy

Disclosure statement

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