Predictors of oropharyngeal cancer survival in Europe

HPV overtakes smoking as the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer in Ireland: experience of a head and neck surgery tertiary referral centre

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, the incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus, is increasing. This increase has yet to be demonstrated in an Irish cohort.

AIMS

To evaluate the number of OPSCC presentations locally, to stratify cases by HPV status and to estimate if any changes in the patient population had occurred over a 10-year period.

METHODS

A STROBE-compliant, retrospective evaluation of patients with OPSCC at St James's Hospital between 2012 and 2022 was performed. Patients with non-SCC histology, undocumented HPV status and residual or recurrent tumours were excluded.

RESULTS

We included 294 patients with a mean age of 60.4 years (95% CI 59.2-61.5 years) and 175 (59.5%) patients had HPV+ OPSCC. The number of new OPSCC diagnoses increased from 115 patients (39.1%) between 2012 and 2016 to 179 patients (60.9%) between 2017 and 2021. This was associated with an increased proportion of HPV-linked OPSCC (50.4% 2012-2016 vs. 65.4% 2017-2021, p = 0.011). Over time, more patients had a functionally limiting comorbidity (p = 0.011). The mean age of HPV+ OPSCC cases increased by 3.6 years (p = 0.019). Patients with HPV+ OPSCC had greater 2-year OS (83.9% vs. 54.9%; p < 0.001) and 2-year DFS (73.5% vs. 45.6%; p < 0.001). The 2-year OS and DFS did not change over time for HPV+ or HPV- patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In our institution, the number of patients with OPSCC is increasing due to an escalation in cases associated with HPV. Population-level interventions such as vaccination programs may alter the current increase in the incidence of these tumours.

Treatment Complications Associated With Hospital Admission in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivorship is a nursing priority because patients are living longer while significant short-term and long-term treatment complications that require nursing care are increasing. Hospital readmission is costly and reflects the quality of care patients receive.

OBJECTIVES

This secondary analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of treatment complications resulting in hospital admissions among persons with OPC and examine the relationship between treatment complications resulting in hospital admission among persons with OPC and all other persons with head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Survey 2008-2019 database, we identified persons with relevant head and neck cancer diagnoses using specific International Classification of Disease ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Complications were operationalized by diagnosis-related codes; persons with codes for major elective surgery were excluded as our focus was posttreatment symptoms requiring hospitalization. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize persons with OPC hospitalized between 2008 and 2019. Binary logistic regression was used to assess complications using crude comparisons. The Elixhauser Comorbidity Index was used for controlling for comorbidities.

RESULTS

The final analysis samples included 751,533: 164,770 persons with OPC and 586,763 with other head and cancers. The most prevalent diagnoses observed in those with OPC were esophagitis, nutrition disorder, hematological disorder, and renal failure; the least common diagnoses were sepsis, respiratory tract infection, and pneumonia. Binary regression revealed that persons with OPC experienced significantly more esophagitis, nutrition disorders, hematological disorders, and renal failure compared to persons with other head and neck cancers.

DISCUSSION

Treatment of survivors of OPC requires more intensive monitoring for early symptoms associated with treatment, including esophagitis, nutrition disorders, bleeding disorders, and renal failure, than persons with other head and neck cancers. Monitoring laboratory values and clinical manifestations of these conditions is imperative. Nurses may encounter persons with OPC in emergency departments, outpatient radiology, or inpatient general medicine floors to manage swallowing difficulties, dehydration, malnutrition, and bleeding. Delayed or ineffective treatment of these conditions contributes to readmission, financial burden, and impairment of patient's quality of life. Future research should investigate the relationship between targeted treatment for expected complications and readmission rates in persons with OPC.

Dental considerations for head and neck cancer: A clinical review

Introduction

Radiotherapy is one of the treatment modalities for the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). However, it leads to the development of chronic and acute side effects. These side effects impact negatively on the patient's quality of life and oral functioning. This clinical review aims to provide basic information about HNC, understand the impact of radiotherapy on oral health, and explain the role of dental care providers for HNC patients during the pre-and post-radiotherapy time.

Materials and Methods

Electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched using defined keywords. The main inclusion criteria were any studies describing "dental management of patients with head and neck cancer" and "dental management of patients treated with radiotherapy."

Results

Thematic analysis was used to summaries the findings of the included studies (n = 102) into main headings and subheadings. All studies were published between 1970 and 2023.

Conclusion

The number of HNC patients is increasing. This necessitates the need for raising the awareness of dental care providers to the side-effects of HNC therapy which includes treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery. Dental care providers should understand the common side-effects and their treatments besides their role in the pre- (i.e., dental extraction of teeth with poor prognosis and maintaining good oral hygiene) and post- (i.e., oral rehabilitation and post-HNC dental care) radiotherapy dental care.

Association of Body Mass Index With Outcomes Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Chemoradiotherapy

IMPORTANCE

Combined modality therapy, such as chemoradiotherapy, often results in significant morbidity among patients with head and neck cancer. Although the role of body mass index (BMI) varies based on cancer subtypes, its association with treatment response, tumor recurrence, and survival outcomes among patients with head and neck cancer remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of BMI in treatment response, tumor recurrence, and survival outcomes among patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective, observational, single-institution cohort study conducted at a comprehensive cancer center included 445 patients with nonmetastatic head and neck cancer who underwent chemoradiotherapy from January 1, 2005, to January 31, 2021.

EXPOSURE

Normal vs overweight or obese BMI.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Metabolic response after chemoradiotherapy, locoregional failure (LRF), distant failure (DF), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS), with Bonferroni correction used to adjust for multiple comparisons and P < .025 being considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 445 patients (373 men [83.8%]; median age, 61 years [IQR, 55-66 years]; 107 [24.0%] with normal BMI, 179 [40.2%] with overweight BMI, and 159 [35.7%] with obese BMI) were included for analysis. Median follow-up was 48.1 months (IQR, 24.7-74.9 months). On Cox proportional hazards regression multivariable analysis, only overweight BMI was associated with improved OS (5-year OS, 71.5% vs 58.4%; adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.59 [95% CI, 0.39-0.91]; P = .02) and PFS (5-year PFS, 68.3% vs 50.8%; AHR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.34-0.75]; P < .001). On logistic multivariable analysis, overweight BMI (91.6% vs 73.8%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.86 [95% CI, 0.80-0.93]; P < .001) and obese BMI (90.6% vs 73.8%; AOR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.81-0.96]; P = .005) were associated with complete metabolic response on follow-up positron emission tomography-computed tomography after treatments. On Fine-Gray multivariable analysis, overweight BMI was associated with reduction in LRF (5-year LRF, 7.0% vs 25.9%; AHR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.12-0.71]; P = .01), but not DF (5-year DF, 17.4% vs 21.5%; AHR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.47-1.77]; P = .79). Obese BMI was not associated with LRF (5-year LRF, 10.4% vs 25.9%; AHR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.29-1.37]; P = .24) or DF (5-year DF, 15.0% vs 21.5%; AHR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.35-1.38]; P = .30).

CONCLUSION

In this cohort study of patients with head and neck cancer, when compared with normal BMI, overweight BMI was an independent factor favorably associated with complete response after treatments, OS, PFS, and LRF. Further investigations are warranted to improve understanding on the role of BMI among patients with head and neck cancer.

Incidence, trends, and survival of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2006-2020

BACKGROUND

An increasing trend of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) has been reported in several countries with different demographic characteristics, and often attributed to increases in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The survival of patients with OPC has steadily improved, especially for those with positive HPV status. This study assessed the incidence, trends, and survival of OPC in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) by age at diagnosis, sex and ethnicity.

METHODS

The study included all 2109 patients resident in NZ with a primary diagnosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from 2006 to 2020, identified from the National Cancer Registry. We assessed age-standardised incidence rate (ASR), annual percent change (APC) and overall and relative survival rates.

RESULTS

The average annual incidence of OPC was 2.2 per 100,000 population. There was a steady increase of 4.9% per year over 15 years. Although the incidence rates were higher in males over the study period, the overall rate of increase was similar in males (4.9%) and in females (4.3%). The incidence was highest in the 50-69-year group (8.8/100,000 population). This age group had an incidence that increased by 7.5% per year to 2018, and then declined. The main increase in rates was seen between the birth cohort of 1946-50 and that of 1956-60. The increase in incidence was seen in Māori and Pākehā/European populations, but no increase was seen in Pacific or Asian populations. The 5-year overall relative survival rate improved from 69% in 2006-13 to 78% in 2014-20. Survival rates were lower in older patients, females, and Māori patients.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed a substantial increase in OPC incidence in NZ, with some evidence to suggest a recent slowing in this increase. Māori and Pākehā/European had the highest incidence, while Pacific and Asian populations showed the lowest rates and no increase over the study period. Survival rates have improved over time, but remained lower in some demographic groups.

Sex differences in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancer: the rationale for an individualised approach

BACKGROUND

Precision medicine in oncology aims to identify the most beneficial interventions based on a patient's individual features and disease. However, disparities exist when providing cancer care to patients based on an individual's sex.

OBJECTIVE

To discuss how sex differences impact the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, disease progression, and response to treatment, with a focus on data from Spain.

RESULTS

Genetic and environmental factors (social or economic inequalities, power imbalances, and discrimination) that contribute to these differences adversely affect cancer patient health outcomes. Increased health professional awareness of sex differences is essential to the success of translational research and clinical oncological care.

CONCLUSIONS

The Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica created a Task Force group to raise oncologists' awareness and to implement measures to address sex differences in cancer patient management in Spain. This is a necessary and fundamental step towards optimizing precision medicine that will benefit all individuals equally and equitably.

The Body Mass Index Paradox in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The body mass index (BMI) paradox describes that among patients with certain cancers, higher pretreatment BMI may be associated with improved survival. We examine the impact of BMI on overall survival (OS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. A literature search was performed, and articles using hazard ratios to describe the prognostic impact of BMI on OS in HNSCC were included. Random-effects DerSimonian and Laird methods were employed for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of OS indicated a lower hazards of death in the overweight (BMI: 25 kg/m2-30 kg/m2) compared to the normal weight (BMI: 18.5 kg/m2-25 kg/m2). This protective relationship loses significance when BMI exceeds 30 kg/m². Underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) demonstrate higher hazards of death compared to normal weight patients. Compared to HNSCC patients with normal weight, being overweight up to a BMI of 30 kg/m² is a positive predictor of OS, while being underweight confers a prognostic disadvantage. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms by which increased body mass influences survival outcomes in HNSCC.

Quantifying smoking exposure, genomic correlates, and related risk of treatment failure in p16+ squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx

OBJECTIVES

HPV-associated (p16+) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) has improved survival as compared to HPV-negative, smoking-associated disease. Intermediate outcomes have been noted in patients with p16+ tumors and smoking exposure. However, the extent of smoking exposure required for outcomes to decrease has not been delineated due to low failure rates and poor availability of quantitative tobacco smoke exposure data. Our primary objective is to characterize the dose-dependent relationship between recurrence-free survival (RFS) and tobacco smoke exposure in p16+ OPSCC and secondarily correlate tobacco smoke exposure with genomic alterations.

METHODS

Single institution chart review was performed of patients diagnosed with p16+ OPSCC from 2003 to 2015. Patients were excluded if staging, treatment details, recurrence status, or smoking exposure in pack-years were not available. Two hundred and forty-four patients were included.

RESULTS

Patients with 25 pack-years or greater smoking history exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in RFS compared to never smokers. This was robust to multivariate analysis for including staging and demographic factors. Forty-three patients with available targeted tumor sequencing data were identified. A strong trend was observed for increased C to A transversion mutations above 25 pack-years, which are known to be associated with exposure to tobacco smoke. Similarly, the proportion of COSMIC Signature 4 mutations were also found to be more common in patients with more than 25 pack-years of smoking exposure.

CONCLUSION

Evidence-based smoking exposure thresholds are needed to define inclusion criteria for trials of de-escalation therapy for p16+ OPSCC. Patients with smoking exposure greater than 20 pack-years have increased risk of recurrence and a distinct pattern of genomic alterations. Further studies are needed to delineate the potential consequences of mild smoking exposure. Smoking-related mutational signatures may hold potential for biomarker development in p16+ OPSCC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2B.

Prognostic Significance of a Scoring System Combining p16, Smoking, and Drinking Status in a Series of 131 Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancers

Background

Tobacco and alcohol are two main risk factors associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Studies showed that human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in the etiology of this cancer. HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients present in general a better response to conventional therapy and better overall survival (OS). However, OSCC is a heterogeneous disease regarding treatment. This study aimed to identify more effective prognostic factors associated with a poor clinical outcome for OSCC patients to improve treatment selection.

Materials and Methods

OSCC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017, in two Belgian hospitals, were included. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were extracted from medical records. HPV status was determined through p16 immunohistochemistry. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses allowed to identify variables prognostic for OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Kaplan–Meier survival curves have been assessed for survival.

Results

The study included 131 patients. Statistics showed that monotherapies were significantly associated with a shorter OS; p16 overexpression was significantly associated with a weak consumption of tobacco or alcohol, and a high p16 expression was significantly associated with both longer RFS and OS. The study validated that tobacco and alcohol consumption were significantly correlated with poorer RFS and poorer OS. Only p16 expression trended to be significant for RFS when compared to smoking and drinking habits, while p16 upregulation and alcohol use were both vital for OS indicating that p16 is an independent and significant prognostic factor in OSCC patients. Finally, a scoring system combining p16, tobacco, and alcohol status was defined and was significantly associated with longer RFS and longer OS for nonsmoker and nondrinker p16-positive OSCC patients.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that the overexpression of the p16 protein could be viewed as a factor of good prognosis for RFS and OS of OSCC patients. The prognostic significance of a scoring system combining p16 expression, smoking, and drinking status was evaluated and concluded to be a more effective tool to determine therapeutic orientations based on the risk factors for better treatment relevance and survival.

The impact of inequalities and health expenditure on mortality due to oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil

This study aims to assess the magnitude and trend of mortality rates due to oral (OC) and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) in the 133 Intermediate Geographic Regions (IGR) of Brazil between 1996 and 2018 and to analyze its association with sociodemographic variables and provision of health services. It also aims to compare the trend of mortality from neoplasms that have been reported as associated with HPV (OPC) with the trend of neoplasms that have been reported as not associated with HPV (OC). We obtained mortality data from the Mortality Information System in Brazil and analyzed the trends using the Prais-Winsten method. Then, we assessed the relationship between mortality trends and socioeconomic, health spending, and health services provision variables. The median of the annual percent change of the country’s mortality rates was 0.63% for OC and 0.83% for OPC. Trends in mortality in the IGRs correlated significantly with the Human Development Index and government expenditure on ambulatory health care and hospitalizations. Mortality from both types of cancer decreased in those IGR in which the government spent more on health and in the more socioeconomically developed ones. This study found no epidemiological indication that HPV plays the leading etiological factor in OPC in Brazil.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 Early Antigen Serology for HPV-Driven Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary

Serum antibodies against human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) proteins are associated with HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). The HPV status of OPC cases is clinically relevant because patients with HPV-OPC show improved survival and treatment response compared to tobacco- or alcohol-induced OPC. In clinical settings, molecular HPV tumor status is usually determined by tissue-based methods detecting molecular markers, such as viral nucleic acids or p16 overexpression. Antibodies against HPV16 in peripheral blood were shown to be very accurate in determining the molecular HPV tumor status in multiple studies. In this work, we reviewed and summarized the available literature on the performance of HPV16 serology for E2, E6 and E7 antibodies to determine molecular HPV tumor status in OPC cases in comparison with tissue-based reference methods. We calculated summary estimates across different studies for sensitivity and specificity, and we investigated factors influencing test performance.

Abstract

Antibodies against HPV16 early proteins have been shown to be promising biomarkers for the identification of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) among OPC cases in multiple studies. A systematic literature search was performed to identify original research articles comparing HPV early antigen serology with established reference methods to determine molecular HPV tumor status. Random-effects models were used to calculate summary estimates for sensitivity and specificity of HPV16 E2, E6 and E7 serology for HPV-OPC. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity across studies and describe variables associated with test performance. We identified n = 23 studies meeting all eligibility criteria and included these in the meta-analysis. E6 serology showed the best performance with pooled sensitivity and specificity estimates of 83.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 72.5–90.2%) and 94.6% (95% CI 89.0–97.4%), respectively, while E2 and E7 serological assays were highly specific (E2: 92.5% (95% CI 79.1–97.6%); E7: 88.5% (95% CI 77.9–94.4%)) but moderately sensitive (E2: 67.8% (95% CI 58.9–75.6%); E7: 67.0% (95% CI 63.2–70.6%)). Subgroup analyses revealed increased pooled sensitivity for bacterially (89.9% (95% CI 84.5–93.6%)) vs. in vitro expressed E6 antigen (55.3% (95% CI 41.0–68.7%)), while both showed high specificity (95.2% (95% CI 93.0–96.7%) and 91.1% (95% CI 46.6–99.2%), respectively). Pooled specificity estimates for HPV16 E2, E6 and E7 serology were significantly lower in studies utilizing HPV DNA PCR as the only molecular reference method compared to those using a combination of any two reference methods (HPV DNA, RNA, in situ hybridization (ISH), p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC)), or histopathological reference methods (ISH or p16 IHC) as stand-alone marker. In conclusion, HPV16 E6 seropositivity is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for HPV-OPC. However, its performance differs between serological assays and depends on molecular reference methods.

Characterization of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 seropositive individuals without HPV-associated malignancies after 10 years of follow-up in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Antibodies against the HPV16 oncoprotein E6 are promising biomarkers for HPV16-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV16-OPC) due to their high sensitivity and specificity, and prospective manifestation. In previous studies, 0•7% of controls without HPV-associated malignancies were HPV16 E6 seropositive of which only a minority is expected to develop HPV16-driven cancer. We aimed to characterise HPV16 E6 antibodies in individuals without HPV-associated malignancies.

METHODS

We analysed serum antibodies against HPV16 E6, E7, L1 and HPV18 L1 in a random sample (n = 9,695) of the prospective UK Biobank cohort (UKB). Excluding individuals with potentially HPV-associated malignancies (n = 192), we assessed risk factors for seropositivity by logistic regression.

FINDINGS

In individuals without potentially HPV-associated malignancies (n = 9,503), the HPV16 E6 seroprevalence was 0•8%. Seropositivity against HPV16 E6 and all other HPV antigens was strongly associated with sexual behaviour. The seroprevalence of HPV16 E6, L1 and HPV18 L1 increased with the number of lifetime sex partners (ptrend<0•005), and all HPV antibodies were associated with same-sex intercourse (ORE6 3•1, 95%CI 1•4-6•9; reference category: no same-sex intercourse). HPV16 E6 and L1 seropositivity were associated with young age (≤17 years) at sexual debut (ORE6 2•0, 95%CI 1•1-3•7) compared with individuals reporting sexual debut at age ≥20 years.

INTERPRETATION

This is the first study characterising HPV16 E6 antibodies in the general UK population. Their strong association with sexual behaviour, and overlapping risk factor profiles with other HPV antibodies support their relevance for HPV16-OPC disease prediction. However, additional risk stratification will be required to identify individuals at highest risk to develop HPV16-OPC.

Evolving Profile of HPV-Driven Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a National Cancer Institute in Italy: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

Globally, 30% of oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPSCC) are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Recently, increasing incidence trends for HPV-driven OPSCC have been reported in many countries and changes in the typical HPV-positive OPSCC patient have been recorded, with an increase in the median age and diagnoses in women. We investigated the characteristics of the OPSCC patients attending an Italian Cancer Institute from 2010 to 2019 and assessed possible changes overtime of demographic, behavioral, and clinico-pathologic variables of HPV-driven OPSCC. Overall, 339 OPSCCs were evaluated. HPV-DNA and p16 positivity were 48.7% and 55.2%, respectively, with an HPV-driven fraction (i.e., HPV-DNA+/p16+) of 48.3%. We observed a significant increase overtime in the rate of HPV-associated cases (53.7% in 2015–2019 vs. 40.3% in 2010–2014, p = 0.019). The rate of HPV-driven cases was significantly higher among women, never smokers, patients with T1–T2 tumors, and with nodal involvement. A trend was also observed toward an increase in HPV-driven OPSCCs among patients >61 years, women, former smokers, and patients with no nodal involvement in 2015–2019. Our findings consolidate the observation that HPV-associated OPSCCs are also increasing in Italy. Moreover, they suggest that the profile of the HPV-driven OPSCC patient might be changing.

The prognostic role of medical comorbidities in surgically treated human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Prognostic factors specific to surgically managed human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+)OPSCC) are not fully understood. Medical co-morbidities may have an impact on survival after surgical treatment. We aimed to identify co-morbidities associated with distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in HPV(+)OPSCCs.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case series of HPV(+)OPSCC patients at a tertiary referral center from 2007 to 2016. All patients in the study underwent primary intent-to-cure transoral resection with concomitant neck dissection ± adjuvant radiation ± chemotherapy. Exclusion criteria included a history of previous head and neck cancer or distant metastases at diagnosis. Associations with DMFS and CSS were evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox regression and summarized with hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

406 patients were included in the cohort (100% HPV(+), 90% Male). All had tumors of the tonsil (62%) or base of tongue (38%). Median follow-up for the cohort was 4.0 years (IQR: 2.6-6.2). Higher tumor stage and a higher Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score were significantly associated with worse DMFS and CSS (p < 0.02 for all). A history of diabetes mellitus (N = 36, 9%) was significantly associated with DMFS (HR 3.05 [95%CI 1.26-7.37], p = 0.014) and CSS (HR 4.82 [95%CI 1.84-12.61], p = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for tumor stage, diabetes remained significantly associated with worse DMFS (HR 2.58 [95%CI 1.06-6.26], p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

Diabetes mellitus may be associated with worse DMFS and CSS in surgically managed HPV(+)OPSCC.

Definition of locally recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and proposal for the Odense-Birmingham definition

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study were (1) to systematically review current definitions of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) recurrence and (2) to propose a definition of locally recurrent HNSCC.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed according to the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' statement in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases guided by the study question "What is the definition of local recurrence for patients with HN:SCC?". All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed.

RESULTS

The systematic literature search resulted in 3467 publications after removal of duplicates. Forty studies were examined as full text, and a total of five were found suitable for inclusion. All five included studies dealt with definitions of second primary HNSCC and were based on the Warren and Gates Criteria; (1) each of the tumors are malignant, (2) each must be distinct, and (3) the probability of one being a metastasis of the other must be excluded. Each of the included studies added specific anatomical and/or temporal separation measures to the criteria of second primary HNSCC. We propose the definition of locally recurrent HNSCC to be: (1) Same anatomical subsite or adjacent subsite within 3 cm of the primary lesion, (2) time-interval no more than 3 years (from completed treatment of the primary lesion), and (3) same p16-status for oropharyngeal carcinomas.

CONCLUSIONS

No uniform definition of locally recurrent HNSCC currently exists. We propose the Odense-Birmingham definition based on the anatomical subsite combined with a specific measurable distance and a temporal separation of three years.

Modelling human papillomavirus biology in oropharyngeal keratinocytes

Most human papillomavirus (HPV) positive head and neck cancers arise in the tonsil crypts; deep invaginations at the tonsil surface that are lined with reticulated epithelium infiltrated by immune cells. As in cervical HPV infections, HPV16 is the most prevalent high-risk type in the oropharyngeal cancers, and a genital-oral route of infection is most likely. However, the natural history of HPV-driven oropharyngeal pathogenesis is an enigma, although there is evidence that it is different to that of cervical disease. It is not known if the virus establishes a productive or abortive infection in keratinocytes of the tonsil crypt, or if viral infections progress to cancer via a neoplastic phase, as in cervical HPV infection. The HPV DNA is more frequently found unintegrated in the cancers of the oropharynx compared to those that arise in the cervix, and may include novel HPV-human DNA hybrids episomes. Here, we review current understanding of HPV biology in the oropharynx and discuss the cell-based systems being used to model the HPV life cycle in tonsil keratinocytes and how they can be used to inform on HPV-driven neoplastic progression in the oropharynx.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Silent cancer agents: multi-disciplinary modelling of human DNA oncoviruses’.

[Study of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in head and neck carcinomas in a French monocentric cohort of 372 patients]

INTRODUCTION

French data about HPV role in head and neck carcinomas are sparse, although French patients are mostly heavy smokers. In this series of oropharyngeal et non-oropharyngeal tumors, we aimed to determine what were the clinicopathological features associated with HPV and evaluate survival of patients according to HPV status.

METHODS

Three hundred and seventy-two cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were reviewed and clinicopathological data were detailed. For each case, we performed a HPV PCR and an immunostaining against p16 protein (paraffin embedded tissues).

RESULTS

The series contained 90% of heavy smokers and 36% of tumors were located in oropharynx. HPV DNA was detected in 46% of oropharyngeal carcinomas and 16% of non-oropharyngeal carcinomas. Genotype 16 was the most frequently detected (84%). Clinicopathological features significantly associated with HPV DNA were: oropharyngeal location; absence of tobacco smoking; nodal involvement; poorly-differentiated non-keratinizing histology; positive p16 immunostaining. HPV infection was significantly associated with a longer survival for oropharyngeal carcinomas. It was not the case for non-oropharyngeal carcinomas.

CONCLUSION

In this French series with lot of heavy smokers, under half of carcinomas are HPV induced. Clinicopathological features and survival data associated with HPV infection are the same as those classically described in literature.

Skeletal muscle mass is an imaging biomarker for decreased survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and sarcopenic obesity (co-presence of low SMM and obesity) are emerging prognosticators in oncology, but the prevalence and prognostic value in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is not yet known.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with OPSCC, curative treatment intention and pre-treatment diagnostic imaging of the head and neck area were included. Patients with unknown HPV-status, palliative treatment intention or unavailable imaging were excluded, Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics were collected between 2009 and 2016. Patients were stratified into a low-, intermediate-, and high-risk group according to HPV-status, amount of pack-years, tumor and nodal stage. SMM was radiologically measured and cutoff values were determined by optimal stratification. The prognostic value of low SMM and sarcopenic obesity for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was determined by Cox regression analysis and Kaplan Meier survival curves.

RESULTS

In 216 patients, low SMM and sarcopenic obesity were present in 140 (64.8%) and 13 (6.0%) patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis, stratification into a high-risk group (HPV-negative status with ≥10-pack-years or T4-stage) was a prognostic factor for OS and DFS (HR 2.93, p < 0.01) (HR 4.66, p < 0.01). Of specific interest, sarcopenic obesity was a strong negative prognostic factor for OS and DFS (HR 4.42, p < 0.01 and (HR 3.90, p < 0.05), independent from other well-known prognostic factors such as HPV-status.

CONCLUSION

Low skeletal muscle mass is highly prevalent in OPSCC patients. Sarcopenic obesity is a novel pretreatment prognosticator for OS and DFS in OPSCC and should therefore be considered in clinical decision making.

HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer in Croatia - Demography and survival

Objectives

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Main HNSCC risk factors are tobacco, alcohol, and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) usually have different etiology, increasing incidence and often show an improved survival when compared to HPV-negative cases. The objective of the current study was to retrospectively examine the influence of HPV on the survival of OPSCC patients in a non-Western population setting.

Materials and methods

We determined the presence of HPV DNA and/or RNA in 99 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples of OPSCC patients treated between 2002 and 2015. Patients were compared based on laboratory, demographic, clinical, life style characteristics and survival.

Results

HPV RNA was found in 29.3% cases. However, groups based on HPV data (either RNA, DNA or retrospectively collected p16 staining) did not show significant differences. Overall, 5-year survival was 30% with minimal influence of the HPV positivity.

Conclusions

The HPV influence on survival of OPSCC patients is not identical between populations probably due to other factors overshadowing the HPV effect. This should be taken into account when treatment or policy decisions are made in each particular setting.

Radiomic Profiling of Head and Neck Cancer: 18F-FDG PET Texture Analysis as Predictor of Patient Survival

Background and Purpose

The accurate prediction of prognosis and pattern of failure is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies for patients with cancer, and early evidence suggests that image texture analysis has great potential in predicting outcome both in terms of local control and treatment toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess the value of pretreatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET texture analysis for the prediction of treatment failure in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 90 patients diagnosed with primary HNSCC treated between January 2010 and June 2017 with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. All patients underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT before treatment. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT texture features of the whole primary tumor were measured using an open-source texture analysis package. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was employed to select the features that are associated the most with clinical outcome, as progression-free survival and overall survival. We performed a univariate and multivariate analysis between all the relevant texture parameters and local failure, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, primary tumor site, and primary tumor stage. Harrell c-index was employed to score the predictive power of the multivariate cox regression models.

Results

Twenty patients (22.2%) developed local failure, whereas the remaining 70 (77.8%) achieved durable local control. Multivariate analysis revealed that one feature, defined as low-intensity long-run emphasis (LILRE), was a significant predictor of outcome regardless of clinical variables (hazard ratio < 0.001, P=0.001).The multivariate model based on imaging biomarkers resulted superior in predicting local failure with a c-index of 0.76 against 0.65 of the model based on clinical variables alone.

Conclusion

LILRE, evaluated on pretreatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, is associated with higher local failure in patients with HNSCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Using texture analysis in addition to clinical variables may be useful in predicting local control.