Prevalence and Characteristics of HPV Infection in Oropharyngeal Cancer

Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status and its impact on the outcome in a consecutive series of patients affected by oropharyngeal cancer. Methods: The specimens of consecutive subjects surgically treated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained. Samples were collected by broom-type cell sampling devices and they underwent the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test to identify the presence of HPV types. Results: In all, 52 patients were enrolled. The presence of HPV was detected in 13 samples, with HPV type 16 as the most frequently encountered type. Statistically significant associations were found between HPV-positive patients and a higher tumor grading (P < 0.05), and between HPV-positive patients and a higher number of negative prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas with a higher tumor grading is strongly linked to HPV16 infection.