High‐risk HPV types and head and neck cancer

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 135; no. 7; pp. 1653 - 1661
• Main Authors: Michaud, Dominique S., Langevin, Scott M., Eliot, Melissa, Nelson, Heather H., Pawlita, Michael, McClean, Michael D., Kelsey, Karl T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Wiley-Blackwell 01.10.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Case-Control Studies; Cervical cancer; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Head & neck cancer; head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Head and Neck Neoplasms - virology; HPV infection; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus 18; Humans; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neoplasm Staging; Oral cancer; oropharyngeal cancer; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Papillomaviridae - classification; Papillomaviridae - isolation & purification; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - diagnosis; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Tumors; High risk; Oral cancer; Stomatology; Oropharynx cancer; Papovaviridae; Malignant tumor; Papillomavirus; Virus; Infection; HPV infection; Human papillomavirus; Cancerology; ENT disease; Head and neck cancer; Oral cavity disease; Pharynx disease; oropharyngeal cancer; Cancer; head and neck cancer; oral cancer
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28811

Although HPV16 has been strongly implicated in oropharyngeal carcinogenesis, the role of other high‐risk HPV types in the etiology of head and neck cancer remains unclear. To date, few data exist addressing the nature of the association between antibodies to oncogenic proteins of non‐HPV16 HPVs in relation to head and neck cancer. We examined the relationship between multiple HPV types (HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a large population‐based case–control study (1069 cases and 1107 controls). Serological measures for HPV types included antibodies to L1, E6 and/or E7. In a secondary analysis, we excluded HPV16 seropositive subjects to examine independent associations with other high‐risk HPVs. All analyses were adjusted for age, race, sex, education, smoking and alcohol consumption. Statistically significant associations were observed for HPV16, 18, 33 and 52 and risk of HNSCC after mutually adjusting for HPV types. Among HPV16 seronegative subjects, elevated risks of HNSCC were observed for HPV18 E6 (OR = 4.19, 95% CI = 1.26–14.0), HPV33 E6 (OR = 7.96, 95% CI = 1.56–40.5) and HPV52 E7 (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.16–9.99). When examined by tumor type, associations with HPV18 and HPV33 remained statistically significant for oropharyngeal cancer, and HPV52 was associated with oral cancer. In addition, magnitude of associations for HNSCC increased markedly with increasing number of seropositive high‐risk HPV infections. High‐risk HPV types, other than HPV16, are likely to be involved in the etiology of HNSCC. What's New? While human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are suspected to play a role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), only the HPV16 subtype has been convincingly associated with risk of the disease. This population‐based case‐control study shows, however, that HNSCC risk can be influenced by non‐HPV16 subtypes, namely HPV18, 33, and 52. Among HPV16 seronegative patients, HPV18 and 33 were most strongly associated with oropharyngeal cancer, while HPV52 was associated with oral cancer.