Human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 in primary lung cancers—a meta-analysis

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 1722 - 1728
• Main Authors: Srinivasan, Malini, Taioli, Emanuela, C.Ragin, Camille
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Asia - epidemiology; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Europe - epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Human papillomavirus 16 - genetics; Human papillomavirus 16 - isolation & purification; Human papillomavirus 18 - genetics; Human papillomavirus 18 - isolation & purification; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - virology; Medical sciences; Molecular Epidemiology; North America - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Pneumology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; South America - epidemiology; Tumors; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; South America; Asia; North America; Europe; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Lung cancer; Papovaviridae; Malignant tumor; Bronchopulmonary; Metaanalysis; Papillomavirus; Virus; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus; Bronchus disease; Cancer; Primary cancer
• ISSN: 0143-3334; 1460-2180; 1460-2180
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgp177

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. A possible carcinogenic role of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been investigated for >20 years and has major clinical and public health implications. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of HPV16 and HPV18 in primary lung cancers (2435 subjects from 37 published studies). The overall HPV prevalence ranged from 0.0 to 78.3% with large heterogeneity across geographic regions and histological tissue types. A higher proportion, 50% (7/14), of the European studies reported low or no HPV prevalence (0–10%) compared with the Asian studies, 22% (4/18). When the analysis was limited to HPV16 and HPV18 prevalence, a higher prevalence in Asia (HPV16 = 11.6% and HPV18 = 8.8%) than in Europe (HPV16 = 3.5% and HPV18 = 3.6%) was observed. Studies using HPV-specific primers resulted in higher prevalence rates than consensus HPV primers (HPV16: Asia = 13% and Europe = 6%; HPV18: Asia = 13% and Europe = 5%). Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of HPV in lung carcinogenesis with careful thought given to study design and laboratory detection methods for a more accurate assessment of HPV status in lung tumors.