Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The tumor protein p73 interacts with the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV‐16) oncoproteins E6 and E7, and p73 variation may modify the interaction between p73 protein and HPV‐16 oncogenic proteins and contribute to cellular malignant transformation.
METHODS:
In this case‐case comparison study, the authors analyzed HPV‐16 status in tumor specimens and genotyped the p73 G4C14‐to‐A4T14 polymorphism using genomic DNA from blood of 202 non‐Hispanic white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in univariate and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between the p73 polymorphism and HPV‐16 status in SCCHN.
RESULTS:
Compared with the p73 GC/GC genotype, the AT/AT and combined GC/AT + AT/AT variant genotypes were associated significantly with HPV‐16‐positive tumor status among patients with SCCHN (adjusted OR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.32‐21.4; adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03‐3.53, respectively). There was a significant dose‐effect relation between the AT allele and HPV‐16‐positive tumor status in patients with SCCHN (trend test: P = .014). Moreover, the stratified analyses indicated that the association between HPV‐16‐positive tumor status and the combined p73 GC/AT + AT/AT genotypes was more pronounced among several subgroups of patients who were older, men, ever drinkers, and those with oropharyngeal cancer.
CONCLUSIONS:
The p73 polymorphism was associated with HPV‐16 status in SCCHN and may serve as a marker of positive HPV‐16 tumor status in patients with SCCHN, particularly those with oropharyngeal cancer. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.