Clinical characteristics and outcomes of oropharyngeal carcinoma related to high-risk non-human papillomavirus16 viral subtypes

Clinical outcomes of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma stratified by human papillomavirus subtype: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

We aim to determine if there is a survival difference between patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 versus HPV-non16 subtypes.

PATIENT AND METHODS

Databases were queried for full length, peer-reviewed, English language, articles published between 01/01/1980 and 06/08/2022. Studies reporting clinical outcomes of OPSCC associated with HPV16 and HPV-non16 subtypes with at least 10 patients were included. Primary outcome was the overall survival (OS) of patients with HPV16- versus HPV-non16-associated OPSCC. Secondary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and pooled rate of p16 positivity by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies met inclusion criteria and included 1,310 patients with HPV16 and 219 with HPV-non16 subtypes of OPSCC. The prevalence of HPV-non16 was 14.3 %. The pooled 5-year OS rates for patients with HPV16 and HPV-non16 were 83.4 %(95 % CI 77.8-89.0 %) and 69.3 %(95 % CI 58.5-80.1 %), respectively. OS at 5 years was significantly worse for HPV-non16 subtype, compared to HPV16 (log odds ratio [OR] -0.54, p = 0.008). There was a trend towards worse 5-year RFS with HPV-non16 compared to HPV16 (log OR -0.55, p = 0.063). Patients with HPV-non16 disease were less likely to be p16 positive by IHC (log OR -0.91, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Patients with HPV-non16OPSCC may experience worse OS and were less likely to be p16 positive compared to patients with HPV16 disease. While future prospective validation is warranted, routine assessment of both p16 IHC and HPV subtype could be considered prior to pursuing treatment de-escalation for HPV-associated OPSCC.

Clinical, morphologic and molecular heterogeneity of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer

The incidence of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rising rapidly and has exceeded cervical cancer to become the most common HPV-induced cancer in developed countries. Since patients with HPV + OPSCC respond very favorably to standard aggressive treatment, the emphasis has changed to reducing treatment intensity. However, recent multi-center clinical trials failed to show non-inferiority of de-escalation strategies on a population basis, highlighting the need to select low-risk patients likely to respond to de-intensified treatments. In contrast, there is a substantial proportion of patients who develop recurrent disease despite aggressive therapy. This supports that HPV + OPSCC is not a homogeneous disease, but comprises distinct subtypes with clinical and biological variations. The overall goal for this review is to identify biomarkers for HPV + OPSCC that may be relevant for patient stratification for personalized treatment. We discuss HPV + OPSCC as a heterogeneous disease from multifaceted perspectives including clinical behavior, tumor morphology, and molecular phenotype. Molecular profiling from bulk tumors as well as single-cell sequencing data are discussed as potential driving factors of heterogeneity between tumor subgroups. Finally, we evaluate key challenges that may impede in-depth investigations of HPV + OPSCC heterogeneity and outline potential future directions, including a section on racial and ethnic differences.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of malignancies, involving the oral cavity, pharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, and salivary glands, that together compose the seventh most common cancer diagnosis worldwide. With 890,000 new cases and 450,000 deaths annually per GLOBOCAN estimates, HNSCC accounts for roughly 4.5% of cancer diagnoses and deaths. In the developing world, the incidence of HNSCC is growing with increasing consumption of tobacco (smoked or chewed), alcohol, and areca nut (betel quid). Alcohol and tobacco have a synergistic effect, with the heavy consumption of both increasing HNSCC risk 40-fold. In developed nations, HPV-related HNSCC surpasses tobacco- and alcohol-related disease. HPV-related HNSCC more commonly affects the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx than the oral cavity, and is associated with a significantly longer median survival (130 months vs. 20 months). Discrepancies in etiology as well as disparities in lifestyle choices and access to healthcare may account for the greater incidence and poorer survival of HNSCC among minority and lower-socioeconomic-status communities in developed nations. Pharmacotherapy and counseling together have been shown to be effective in promoting smoking and alcohol cessation. Education on cancer risk and community engagement have reduced areca nut consumption in Asia as well as in diaspora communities. HPV vaccination, starting at age 11-12 for both sexes, has been shown to reduce the prevalence of high-risk HPV serologies and prevent pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. As of 2020, 58.6% of eligible adolescents in the US have received the full two-vaccine series. Increased adoption of vaccination, education on safe sex practices, and routine visual oral screening for high-risk patients would curb growing HNSCC incidence in developed nations.

High-risk human papillomavirus 16/18 associated with improved survival in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

There has been conflicting evidence on the independent prognostic role of human papillomavirus (HPV) status in sinonasal cancer. The objective of this study was to assess whether the survival of patients with sinonasal cancer differs based on various HPV statuses, including HPV-negative, positive for the high-risk HPV-16 and HPV-18 (HPV16/18) subtypes, and positive for other high-risk and low-risk HPV subtypes.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, data from the National Cancer Database were extracted from the years 2010-2017 for patients who had primary sinonasal cancer (N = 12,009). The outcome of interest was overall survival based on HPV tumor status.

RESULTS

Study included an analytic cohort of 1070 patients with sinonasal cancer who had confirmed HPV tumor status (732 [68.4%] HPV-negative; 280 [26.2%] HPV16/18-positive; 40 [3.7%] positive for other high-risk HPV; and 18 [1.7%] positive for low-risk HPV). HPV-negative patients had the lowest all-cause survival probability at 5 years postdiagnosis (0.50). After controlling for covariates, HPV16/18-positive patients had a 37% lower mortality hazard than HPV-negative patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-0.82). Patients aged 64-72 years (crude prevalence ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51-0.86) and 73 years and older (crude prevalence ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31-0.59) presented with lower rates of HPV16/18-positive sinonasal cancer than those aged 40-54 years. In addition, Hispanic patients had a 2.36 times higher prevalence of non-HPV16/18 sinonasal cancer than non-Hispanic White patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that, for patients with sinonasal cancer, HPV16/18-positive disease may confer a significant survival advantage compared with HPV-negative disease. Other high-risk and low-risk HPV subtypes have survival rates similar to the rates for HPV-negative disease. HPV status might be an important independent prognostic factor in sinonasal cancer that could be used in patient selection and clinical decisions.

Practical Application of Circulating Tumor-Related DNA of Human Papillomavirus in Liquid Biopsy to Evaluate the Molecular Response in Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer

Recent findings have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is present in the blood as a tumor-specific biomarker (circulating tumor-related HPV; ctHPV) in patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-related OPC). The molecular response (MR) in patients with HPV-related OPC can be defined as the change in the number of ctHPV copies in relation to its initial quantity. The optimal model for assessing the MR using a liquid biopsy (LB) should be based on the E6/E7 sequences of the viral genome. MR assessment can help to evaluate the intensity of ongoing treatments in relation to the tumor response. The evaluation of the residual disease at the end of therapy may also be performed by MR assessment. If a partial MR (pMR) is found, caution is indicated and a subsequent LB should be considered, due to the likelihood of disease progression. Complete radiological and clinical responses together with a complete MR (cMR) convincingly indicate a low risk of treatment failure. Moreover, molecular recurrence (Mrec) during a follow-up, confirmed in two consecutive assays, even despite the lack of any other clinical or radiological symptoms of progression, indicates patients at high risk of disease recurrence. In conclusion, MR by ctHPV assessment may hasten the early detection of disease progression, at any stage of the management of the patient with HPV-related OPC.

Oropharyngeal Carcinoma with a Special Focus on HPV-Related Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) has one of the most rapidly increasing incidences of any cancer in high-income countries. The most recent (8th) edition of the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system separates HPV-OPSCC from its HPV-negative counterpart to account for the improved prognosis seen in the former. Indeed, owing to its improved prognosis and greater prevalence in younger individuals, numerous ongoing trials are examining the potential for treatment deintensification as a means to improve quality of life while maintaining acceptable survival outcomes. Owing to the distinct biology of HPV-OPSCCs, targeted therapies and immunotherapies have become an area of particular interest. Importantly, OPSCC is often detected at an advanced stage, highlighting the need for diagnostic biomarkers to aid in earlier detection. In this review, we highlight important advances in the epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, and clinical management of HPV-OPSCC and underscore the need for a progressive understanding of the molecular basis of this disease toward early detection and precision care.

Prognostic value of human papillomavirus detection and the eighth edition of the TNM classification staging system in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A single-center Polish study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine human papillomavirus (HPV) status and genotypes, the HPV status-dependent survival, and the applicability of the eighth TNM classification in Polish patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

STUDY DESIGN

All patients with primary OPSCC, diagnosed and treated from 2007 to 2017 at the National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland, who underwent radical radiotherapy were included. The Kaplan-Meier method was deployed to produce 3- and 5-year observed survival (OS) estimates.

RESULTS

A total of 110 OPSCC cases were identified. Double positivity for HPV (IHC p16^INK4a and HPV-DNA) was recorded in 70.9% of cases, with HPV16 being the most prevalent genotype (96.2%). The disease stage was significantly less advanced in the HPV-related group than in the HPV-negative group (P < .001). Three- and 5-year OS in HPV-related carcinoma was 80.7% and 74.0%, respectively; in the HPV-negative group, OS was 52.9% and 48.5%. OS rates were associated with HPV status, tumor stage, and disease stage according to the eighth edition TNM classification.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of Polish patients with OPSCC are HPV16-positive. In HPV-related OPSCC, survival rates are significantly higher than in HPV-negative OPSCC. The findings support the requirement of HPV testing in Polish patients with OPSCC because HPV-positive status influences tumor prognosis.

Impact of specific high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes on survival in oropharyngeal cancer

The increases observed in incidence and survival of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) have been attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, but the survival-impact of specific genotypes is poorly understood. We investigated the potential influence of HPV genotypes on survival in HPV-positive (HPV+) OPSCC. All patients with HPV+/p16+ OPSCC and available genotype data within the period 2011 to 2017 in Eastern Denmark were included. Descriptive statistics on clinical and tumor data, as well as overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) with Cox hazard models and Kaplan-Meier plots were performed. Overall, 769 HPV+/p16+ OPSCC patients were included of which genotype HPV16 accounted for 86% (n = 662). Compared to high-risk non-HPV16 genotypes (HR non-HPV16), HPV16 patients were younger at diagnosis (median years, 60 vs 64), had a higher male to female ratio (3.7:1 vs 2.1:1), and lower performance scores of ≤1 (90%, n = 559, vs 81%, n = 74). Regarding 5-year OS and RFS, no difference was observed between HPV16 and HR non-HPV16 patients. Subgrouping the HR non-HPV16 group into HPV33 (n = 57), HPV35 (n = 26) and "other genotypes" (n = 24) a significantly worse OS in the "other genotypes" group (hazard rate: 2.33, P = .027) was shown. With similar survival results between HPV16 and non-HPV16 genotypes, genotyping in OPSCC is interesting from an epidemiological point of view as well as in vaccination programs, but not a necessary addition in prognostication of HPV+/p16+ OPSCC.

The Isothermal Amplification AmpFire Assay for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Detection and Genotyping in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Oropharyngeal Cancer Samples

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) represent a distinct clinical entity compared with HPV-negative tumors with particular regard to treatment response and survival outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the AmpFire Multiplex HR-HPV tests, for the detection and genotyping of 15 high-risk (HR) HPV types in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples and identify HPV-driven OPSCC. DNA from 160 OPSCC FFPE specimens plus 23 samples from other head and neck primary sites was tested. Results were compared with those obtained using Linear Array HPV-DNA Genotyping Test. Linear Array and AmpFire Multiplex HR-HPV tests showed, for all samples and specifically for OPSCCs, an overall concordance agreement of 98.9% and 99.4% and a Cohen κ coefficient of 0.972 and 0.984, respectively. A concordance of 100% for HPV16 and HPV18 was observed. The overall agreement between p16^INK4a overexpression and HPV detection by the AmpFire Multiplex HR-HPV assay in 145 OPSCC samples was 93.8%, with a Cohen κ coefficient of 0.848. The AmpFire HPV Tests are simple assays for detection and genotyping of HPV-DNA in OPSCC FFPE samples and can be easily implemented in the clinical practice setting for HPV-DNA detection.

The impact of HPV genotypes on survival in HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients with HPV-positive (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) are known to have a better prognosis compared to patients with HPV-negative OPSCCs.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of specific HPV genotypes on survival in HPV + OPSCC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed and Embase for studies addressing the association between specific HPV genotypes and survival among patients with OPSCC was performed.

RESULTS

Six studies (n = 1385 patients) published between 2013 and 2017 were included. Five studies (n = 1290 patients) found a better survival among HPV16 cases compared to other high-risk (HR) HPV genotypes (HPV 33, 18, 35, 31, 39, 52, 59, 45, 56, 67, 29, and 58), of which three studies (n = 933 patients) reached significant results. Two of these studies reported a five-year overall survival (OS) of 64.6% and 71.4% in HPV16 OPSCCs vs. 45.6% and 57.1% in HR non-HPV16 OPSCCs (p = .001 and p = .010, respectively), and the last study found a better OS among HPV16 cases with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.35, 95%. CI [0.14;0.85], p = .02.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a favorable prognosis among patients with HPV16 OPSCC compared with HR non-HPV16 OPSCC. These results may be important when designing future trials and in the planning of follow-up regimes.

cfDNA detection for HPV+ squamous cell carcinomas

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic factor in a spectrum of squamous cell carcinomas including anal, cervical, and oropharyngeal. HPV cell free DNA (cfDNA) is shed from the primary tumor into systemic circulation and can be detected using several platforms including quantitative PCR, digital droplet PCR, or next generation sequencing. Levels of HPV cfDNA at time of initial presentation is associated with known poor prognostic clinicopathologic variables, such as advanced stage and, locoregional and distant metastases. Moreover, longitudinal sampling revealed that persistent or increasing HPV cfDNA levels are indicative of treatment relapse and, in some studies, HPV cfDNA detection predicted treatment failures prior to routine post-treatment clinical imaging. A liquid biopsy platform using HPV cfDNA offers unique advantages over traditional approaches and may have clinical utility for detection of minimum residual disease, treatment response, and disease progression in patients with HPV+ cancers.

Comparing Outcomes for Patients with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Type 16 versus Other High-Risk HPV Types in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is related to improved treatment outcomes. What remains unclear is whether all HPV DNA genotypes carry similar prognostic relevance. We aimed to evaluate disease control and survival outcomes by HPV DNA genotype. Patients with primary OPSCC without distant metastases treated with curative intent were retrospectively identified from an IRB-approved institutional database. Patients that underwent HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with available genotype were included and dichotomized by the presence of HPV type 16 (HPV-16) or other high-risk HPV genotype (HPV-non16). Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control (LRC) and distant control (DC) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. In our cohort of 193 patients treated from 2012 to 2018 with HPV DNA PCR, 10% were detected as HPV-non16 high-risk types. Patients with HPV-16 were significantly younger than those with HPV-non16, but no other baseline factors were associated with HPV-non16. With a median follow-up of 42.9 months, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the HPV-16 and HPV-non16 groups for 3-year OS (87.7% v. 73.6%), DFS (82.9% v. 68.7%), LRC (92.8% v. 88.5%) or DC (91% v. 89.2%). There is no statistically significant difference in outcomes between OPSCC with HPV-16 and HPV-non16 high-risk genotypes in our cohort, though trends of overall worse survival and disease-free survival in HPV-non 16 OPSCC were seen. Further studies with larger cohorts of patients with HPV-non 16-associated OPSCC are required to make definitive conclusions regarding the prognostic and clinical significance of HPV type.

Does HPV Subtype Predict Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancers?

Background

Recently, reanalysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas study demonstrated that human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in head and neck cancers other than HPV-16 have inferior survival to HPV-16-positive tumors. We aimed to examine the association of HPV subtypes and survival in a large cohort of patient samples from our institution.

Methods

Fresh frozen primary site biopsy samples were collected either in clinic or at the time of surgery. Patient demographic, staging, and survival data were also collected. Tumors were tested for HPV subtypes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

280 patient biopsy samples were collected between 2011 and 2017. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 61.9 ± 11.1 years and most patients (78%) were male. The majority of cancers were of the oral cavity (60%) or oropharynx (25%) and 30% had HPV-positive disease. Median follow-up was 3.76 years and 96/280 patients (34%) developed recurrences. Patients with p16-positive versus negative disease had significantly improved 5-year overall survival (OS, 77.6% vs. 53.3%; p=0.009) and progression-free survival (PFS, 67.3% vs. 41.0%, p=0.006). Similarly improved 5-year OS and PFS were observed for patients with HPV-positive versus negative disease (65.0% vs. 55.0%, p=0.084; 53.3% vs. 43.2%, p=0.072, resp.). Patients with HPV-16 compared to other HPV diseases had worse 5-year OS and PFS (62.1% vs. 88.9%, p=0.273; 49.0% vs. 88.9%, p=0.081, resp.).

Conclusions

In contrast to the data derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas, patients with HPV-16 tumors trended towards decreased PFS and OS compared with tumors driven by other HPV genotypes. Further larger multi-institutional studies are necessary to understand the relationship between other HPV genotypes and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in head and neck cancer: Informing developing strategies for cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance

Current clinical practice algorithms for HPV testing make no effort to discern the impact of genotypes for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Data was collected for all patients with HNSCs that had undergone HPV testing at an academic hospital as part of clinical care (2012-2019). Screening was performed using real-time PCR targeting L1 of low and high-risk HPV types, followed by genotyping of positive cases. Genotype status was correlated with age, site and histologic parameters. Of the 964 patients tested, 68% had HPV-positive cancers. Most arose from the oropharynx (OP) (89%) and sinonasal tract (5%). The most frequent genotype was 16 (84.4%) followed by 35 (5.6%), 33 (4.1%), 18 (2.7%), 45 (1.1%), 69 (0.8%) and others (1.3%). There was an association between genotype (16 vs non-16) and tumor origin (OP vs non-OP) (p < 0.0001). HPV18 was associated with transformation to an aggressive small cell phenotype, but HPV16 was not (22% vs 0%, p < 0.0001). Patients with HPV-non-16 OP carcinomas were older than patients with HPV16 OP carcinomas, but the difference was not significant. HPV genotypes are variable and unevenly distributed across anatomic sites of the head and neck. The association of HPV18 with small cell transformation suggests that variants can track with certain phenotypes in ways that may account for differences in clinical behavior. This study challenges the prevailing assumption of HPV equivalency across all high-risk genotypes in ways that may inform preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and surveillance strategies.

Analysis, identification and visualization of subgroups in genomics

Motivation

Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease involving multiple somatic mutations that accumulate during its progression. In the past years, the wide availability of genomic data from patients’ samples opened new perspectives in the analysis of gene mutations and alterations. Hence, visualizing and further identifying genes mutated in massive sets of patients are nowadays a critical task that sheds light on more personalized intervention approaches.

Results

Here, we extensively review existing tools for visualization and analysis of alteration data. We compare different approaches to study mutual exclusivity and sample coverage in large-scale omics data. We complement our review with the standalone software AVAtar (‘analysis and visualization of alteration data’) that integrates diverse aspects known from different tools into a comprehensive platform. AVAtar supplements customizable alteration plots by a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for subset identification and provides an innovative and user-friendly interface for the evaluation of concurrent solutions. A use case from personalized medicine demonstrates its unique features showing an application on vaccination target selection.

Availability

AVAtar is available at: https://github.com/sysbio-bioinf/avatar

Contact

hans.kestler@uni-ulm.de, phone: +49 (0) 731 500 24 500, fax: +49 (0) 731 500 24 502

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus and its genotype distribution in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Background

High-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in a subset of head and neck (HN) squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). For oropharyngeal SCCs, HR HPV positivity is known to be associated with good prognosis, and a separate staging system for HPV-associated carcinomas using p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a surrogate test has been adopted in the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. We examined the HR HPV status and the genotype distribution in five HN subsites.

Methods

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were used for p16 IHC and DNA extraction. HPV DNA detection and genotyping were done employing either a DNA chip-based or real-time polymerase chain reaction–based method.

Results

During 2011–2019, a total of 466 SCCs were tested for HPV DNA with 34.1% positivity for HR HPV. Among HN subsites, the oropharynx showed the highest HR HPV prevalence (149/205, 75.1%), followed by the sinonasal tract (3/14, 21.4%), larynx (5/43, 11.6%), hypopharynx (1/38, 2.6%), and oral cavity (1/166, 0.6%). The most common HPV genotype was HPV16 (84.3%) followed by HPV35 (6.9%) and HPV33 (4.4%). Compared with HR HPV status, the sensitivity and specificity of p16 IHC were 98.6% and 94.3% for the oropharynx, and 99.2% and 93.8% for the tonsil, respectively.

Conclusions

Using a Korean dataset, we confirmed that HR HPV is most frequently detected in oropharyngeal SCCs. p16 positivity showed a good concordance with HR HPV DNA for oropharyngeal and especially tonsillar carcinomas. The use of p16 IHC may further be extended to predict HR HPV positivity in sinonasal tract SCCs.

Distinct biomarker and behavioral profiles of human papillomavirus-related oropharynx cancer patients by age

BACKGROUND

HPV-positive oropharynx squamous cell cancer (HPV-OPC) patients were initially described as younger, however incidence has increased among older age-groups. It is unknown why some patients present at a younger age and others at a later age.

METHODS

Multi-institutional prospective study of HPV-OPC cases (n = 163) and matched controls (n = 345) with detailed behavioral survey, and serum tested for HPV antibodies by fluorescent bead-based technology. Age at diagnosis was used to stratify patients into younger (≤50 years), middle-age (51-65), and older (>65).

RESULTS

By age, demographic characteristics were largely similar, but HPV biomarkers and sexual acts differed. Younger cases were more likely to be HPV16-positive than older cases (100% vs 77%, p = 0.009). Similarly, younger cases were more likely to be HPV16 E6 or E7 seropositive (100% vs 82%, p = 0.03). Younger cases had a higher number of oral sex partners per year, a marker of sexual intensity (sex-years, p = 0.003), but a similar number of lifetime oral sex partners (measure of cumulative sexual exposure), compared to older cases. While sex-years were higher for younger cases and controls, cases had significantly higher sex-years than matched controls in each age-group (p < 0.001). Younger patients were also more likely to perform oral sex at sexual debut, and were younger at sexual debut (each p < 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Younger, middle-age and older HPV-OPC have distinct biomarker and behavioral profiles. Younger HPV-OPC cases have higher intensity of sexual exposure than older cases and controls, which may in part explain earlier disease onset. The distribution of HPV16-positive tumors among HPV-OPC differs by age group.

HPV33+ HNSCC is associated with poor prognosis and has unique genomic and immunologic landscapes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence of high-risk HPV genotype on outcomes in HNSCC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas HNSCC cohort.

RESULTS

Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, we revealed that HPV33+ HNSCC patients have inferior overall survival compared to HPV16+ HNSCC patients independent of anatomical site (HR 3.59, 95% CI 1.58-8.12; p = 0.002). A host anti-viral immune response, apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, and catalytic polypeptide-like mutational signature, was under represented and, aneuploidy and 3p loss were more frequent in HPV33+ tumors. A deconvolution RNA-Seq algorithm to infer immune cell fractions revealed that CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell infiltration was reduced in HPV33+ compared to HPV16+ tumors (1.3% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.007). TGFB1, a negative modulator of T-cell infiltration and function, showed expression and pathway enrichment in HPV33+ tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work reveals that HPV genotype, in particular HPV33, has a powerful impact on HNSCC patient survival. We argue that p16 immunohistochemistry as a surrogate biomarker for HPV+ status will lead to sub-optimal risk stratification and advocate HPV genotype testing as standard of care.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits glucose metabolism leading to apoptosis in cervical cancer

Cancer requires aerobic glycolysis to supply the energy required for proliferation. Existing evidence has revealed that blocking glycolysis results in apoptosis of cancer cells. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a diterpenoid naphthoquinone found in traditional Chinese medicine, Danshen (Salvia sp.). Tan IIA exhibits potential anticancer activity. However, its effect on cell viability of human cervical cancer cells and its mechanism are unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Tan IIA on proliferation and glucose metabolism in cervical cancer cells. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry and glucose uptake, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate content were measured to assess glucose metabolism. The expression of apoptosis‑associated proteins was detected by western blotting and the antitumor activity of Tan IIA in vivo was evaluated in cervical carcinoma‑bearing mice. The results revealed Tan IIA treatment resulted in a considerable reduction in the viability of SiHa cells. Tan IIA decreased the expression of HPV oncogenes E6 and E7, induced apoptosis and also decreased glycolysis by suppressing the activity of the intracellular AKT/mTOR and HIF‑1α. In vivo, treatment with Tan IIA resulted in a 72.7% reduction in tumor volume. The present study highlights the potential therapeutic value of Tan IIA, which functions by inducing apoptosis and may be associated with inhibition of glycolysis.

Human papillomavirus-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx: Clinical outcomes and implications for laryngeal preservation

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can be detected in approximately 25% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the larynx and hypopharynx. Though HPV is associated with improved survival and disease control in patients with oropharyngeal SCC, the role of HPV as a marker of favorable treatment outcomes in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer is unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients treated for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal SCC were reviewed. HPV status detected by p16 and/or HPV DNA PCR were abstracted from the medical record. A subset of samples (stage III-IV treated with primary radiotherapy) was retrospectively tested for p16 and HPV DNA. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and locoregional control (LRC) were determined and compared between HPV-positive (p16+, PCR+ or both) and HPV-negative (p16- or PCR-) patients.

RESULTS

In total, 279 patients were identified, 94 of which were tested for HPV. Eighty-two (87%) were negative and 12 (13%) were positive for HPV. At 3 years, there were no significant differences in OS (72% v. 83%), DFS (60% v. 71%) and LRC (80% v. 89%). Performance status, smoking history and stage predicted for OS, while performance status and stage predicted for DFS. Analysis of patients treated with primary radiotherapy revealed non-significantly higher rates of laryngeal preservation at 3 years (75% v. 100%).

CONCLUSION

HPV was detected in 13% of tested laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancers. HPV does not appear to significantly impact survival or disease control in patients with SCC of the larynx or hypopharynx. Non-significant improvements in laryngeal preservation were observed in HPV-positive patients.

Head and neck cancer prevention: from primary prevention to impact of clinicians on reducing burden

Survival from head and neck cancers (HNCs) of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx has increased by 10% over the past few decades. Little over half of patients who develop HNCs will survive beyond 5 years. Survival is lower for individuals in many countries where traditional risk factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and betel quid chewing are highly prevalent but tertiary health care center access is limited or unavailable. Early diagnosis of HNC is the most important prognostic factor for each tumor site. Molecular-based research on HNC tumors holds promise for early stage detection, screening, vaccination, disease follow-up, and progression. Future investments for HNC control must consider both effectiveness and sustainability for both high- and low-resource countries alike, with priority toward risk factor prevention and earlier diagnosis.

Human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is now recognised as the principal cause of the increasing incidence rates of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in some parts of the world. The primary risk factor for developing HPV-related OPSCC is oral HPV-infection and the majority of oral HPV-infections are acquired by oral sex. Progression into an OPSCC includes persistent infection with evasion of immune response in the microenvironment, the activation of viral early genes (E6, E7) in basal epithelial cells, the deregulation of cell cycle and the accumulation of chromosomal instability. Patients affected by HPV-related OPSCC tend to be younger and have better outcomes. This observation has lead current research to evaluate treatment de-escalation options to reduce long-term associated morbidity. Moreover, a different molecular profile for HPV-related OPSCC has been described, opening new options for targeted therapy and immunotherapy approaches. This paper comprehensively reviews our accumulated knowledge regarding the role of HPV in OPSCC spanning from infection to cancer development, including its clinical diagnosis, management and preventive strategies.

Prognostic factors for human papillomavirus-positive and negative oropharyngeal carcinomas

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are distinct disease entities. Prognostic factors specific to each entity have not been adequately explored. Goals for this study were: 1) to determine whether HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCCs have distinct prognostic factors, and 2) to explore the prognostic significance of sex and race in OPSCC after HPV stratification STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 239 incident OPSCC patients from 1995 to 2012, treated at Johns Hopkins and University of California-San Francisco was conducted. Women and nonwhite races were oversampled. All analyses were stratified by tumor HPV in situ hybridization status. The effects of sex and race on survival were considered in Kaplan-Meier and unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-four (56.1%) OPSCC patients were HPV positive. On univariate analysis, women had better overall survival than men among HPV-positive (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20-1.07; P = .06) but not HPV-negative (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.43-1.24; P = .24) OPSCCs. On multivariate analysis, women with HPV-positive OPSCCs remained at lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.96; P = .04). Survival did not vary significantly by race among HPV-positive patients. Among HPV-negative patients, Hispanic patients had significantly better survival in unadjusted (HR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.08-0.91; P = .04) but not adjusted (aHR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.11-7.36; P = .94) analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with HPV-positive OPSCC may have improved overall survival compared to men. Sex does not play a prognostic role in HPV-negative OPSCC. There are no differences in prognosis by race among HPV-positive or HPV-negative patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, E287-E295, 2018.

Therapeutic options for treatment of human papillomavirus-associated cancers - novel immunologic vaccines: ADXS11-001

Survival of patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancer is suboptimal despite the availability of various treatment modalities. The recently developed bacterial vector Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) activates innate and adaptive immune responses and is expected to offer immunologic advantages. Axalimogene filolisbac (AXAL or ADXS11-001) is a novel immunotherapeutic based on the live, irreversibly attenuated Lm fused to the nonhemolytic fragment of listeriolysin O (Lm-LLO) and secretes the Lm-LLO-HPV E7 fusion protein targeting HPV-positive tumors. Herein are reported the development and recent results of various clinical trials in patients with HPV-associated cervical, head and neck, and anal cancers.

Emerging insights into recurrent and metastatic human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective

To review recent literature on human papillomavirus‐related (HPV‐positive) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) and focus on implications of recurrent and metastatic disease.

Methods

Primary articles from 1990 to 2016 indexed in MEDLINE (1) pertaining to the epidemiology of HPV‐positive OPC and (2) providing clinical insight into recurrent and metastatic OPC.

Results

The incidence of HPV‐positive OPC is increasing globally. HPV‐positive OPC is a subtype with distinct molecular and clinical features including enhanced treatment response and improved overall survival. While disease recurrence is less common in patients with HPV‐positive OPC, up to 36% of patients experience treatment failure within eight years. Recurrent and metastatic OPC has historically signified poor prognosis, however recent data are challenging this dogma. Here, we discuss recurrent and metastatic OPC in the context of HPV tumor status.

Conclusion

HPV‐positive OPC exhibits distinct genetic, cellular, epidemiological, and clinical features from HPV‐negative OPC. HPV tumor status is emerging as a marker indicative of improved prognosis after disease progression in both locoregionally recurrent and distant metastatic OPC.

Level of Evidence

N/A.

Prognostic significance of non-HPV16 genotypes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Recent studies have found that cases with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) positive for HPV16 genotype have better overall survival compared with cases positive for other HPV genotypes. We sought to further replicate these studies and determine if this relationship is modified by expression of p16 tumor suppressor protein.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We identified 238 OPSCC cases from the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study (CHANCE) study, a population based case-control study. Tumors that tested positive solely for HPV16 genotype and no other genotypes with PCR were classified as HPV16-positive. Tumors positive for any other high-risk HPV genotype were classified as non-HPV16-positive. Expression of p16 in the tumor was determined with immunohistochemistry. Follow-up time was calculated from the date of diagnosis to date of death or December 31, 2013. Overall survival was compared with the Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for smoking, alcohol use, sex, race, and age was calculated with the Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

Cases with HPV16-positive OPSCC had better overall survival than cases with non-HPV16-positive OPSCC (log-rank p-value: 0.010). When restricted to OPSCC cases positive for p16 expression, the same trend continued (log-rank p-value: 0.002). In the adjusted model, cases with non-HPV16-positive OPSCC had greater risk of death compared to cases with HPV16-positive tumors (HR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.60).

CONCLUSIONS

This finding indicates that HPV genotyping carries valuable prognostic significance in addition to p16 status and future survival studies of OPSCC should take into account differing HPV genotypes.