High-risk human papillomavirus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

✍ Scribed by Aatur D. Singhi; Joseph Califano; William H. Westra

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 424 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.21714

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a cause of oropharyngeal carcinoma, has also been implicated as an etiologic agent in nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

Methods

We performed p16 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and HPV on 45 carcinomas of the nasopharynx.

Results

Thirty‐four (76%) carcinomas were EBV‐positive/HPV‐negative, 7 (16%) were EBV‐negative/HPV‐negative, and 4 (9%) were EBV‐negative/HPV‐positive. HPV was more likely to be detected in carcinomas from white patients than non‐white patients (16% vs 0%; p = .03). Of the 3 patients with HPV‐positive carcinomas and available staging information, all were found to have extension into the oropharynx. All HPV‐positive carcinomas were p16 positive, but none of the HPV‐negative carcinomas were p16 positive (p < .001).

Conclusion

HPV can be detected in a subset of carcinomas involving the nasopharynx, but many of these may represent extension from an oropharyngeal primary. P16 immunohistochemistry is a reliable marker for separating EBV‐related and HPV‐related carcinomas of Waldheyer's ring. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012.