Human papillomavirus prevalence in a Mid‐European oral squamous cell cancer population: A cohort study

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 24; no. 6; pp. 948 - 956
• Main Authors: Dalla Torre, Daniel, Burtscher, Doris, Soelder, Elisabeth, Offermanns, Vincent, Rasse, Michael, Puelacher, Wolfgang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2018
• Subjects: age; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Head & neck cancer; Health risk assessment; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - epidemiology; Oral cancer; Oral cavity; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; OSCC; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Population studies; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sexual Partners; Squamous cell carcinoma; Teeth; Throat cancer; Tooth Extraction - statistics & numerical data; Tooth extractions; Toothbrushes; Europe; alcohol; OSCC; Human papillomavirus; age; oral cancer
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/odi.12882

Objectives Human papillomavirus infection has been investigated intensively regarding oropharyngeal carcinoma. However, there is still lack of knowledge about the impact of oral HPV infections concerning oral squamous cell carcinoma. This study investigates the prevalence of oral HPV infection in such patients, identifying possible differences between HPV+ and HPV– patients. Subjects and Methods One hundred and six consequent patients were investigated. After completion of a study questionnaire regarding risk factors, a brush smear sample was taken in each subject to identify the individual oral HPV status (overall/low risk/high risk). Results About 35.8% of the patients were tested positive for HPV in the oral cavity (14% low risk, 28.3% high risk). Patients with oral HPV infection and high‐risk HPV infection were significantly younger (p < 0.001) and had a higher alcohol consumption (p = 0.0075 resp. p = 0.0022). A high number of different sexual partners were significantly correlated with any type of HPV infection. At last, patients with high‐risk oral HPV infection had experienced more tooth extractions during their lifetime. Conclusion Oral HPV infections may influence the course of disease of oral squamous cell carcinoma as HPV+ patients are about 10 years younger. It seems that high alcohol consumption facilitates high‐risk HPV infection. It may be presumed that both alcohol consumption and high‐risk oral HPV infection act synergistically, explaining earlier cancer onset.