PIK3CA Gene Mutations in HNSCC: Systematic Review and Correlations with HPV Status and Patient Survival

Simple Summary Mutations of the PIK3CA gene are thought to contribute to the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), especially those associated with human papillomavirus infection. Furthermore, these mutations may help identify patients who can benefit from specific targeted therapies. This study presents a systematic review of the PIK3CA mutations profile in HNSCC. The results are compared with a cohort of Portuguese patients to study the possible associations with HPV status and patient survival. The Portuguese cohort harboured PIK3CA mutations in 39% of patients, and there were no significant associations with the HPV status or with the OS. In this original case series, there was a statistically significant interaction effect between HPV status and PIK3CA mutation regarding disease-free survival. In HPV-positive patients, the PIK3CA wild-type is associated with a significant 4.64 times increase in the hazard of recurrence or death. Additional studies are needed to clarify the implications of PIK3CA mutations for patient prognosis. PIK3CA mutations are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). This study aims to establish the frequency of PIK3CA mutations in a Portuguese HNSCC cohort and to determine their association with the HPV status and patient survival. A meta-analysis of scientific literature also revealed widely different mutation rates in cohorts from different world regions and a trend towards improved prognosis among patients with PIK3CA mutations. DNA samples were available from 95 patients diagnosed with HNSCC at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Lisbon between 2010 and 2019. HPV status was established based on viral DNA detected using real-time PCR. The evaluation of PIK3CA gene mutations was performed by real-time PCR for four mutations (H1047L; E542K, E545K, and E545D). Thirty-seven cases were found to harbour PIK3CA mutations (39%), with the E545D mutation (73%) more frequently detected. There were no significant associations between the mutational status and HPV status (74% WT and 68% MUT were HPV (+); p = 0.489) or overall survival (OS) (3-year OS: WT 54% and MUT 65%; p = 0.090). HPV status was the only factor significantly associated with both OS and disease-free survival (DFS), with HPV (+) patients having consistently better outcomes (3-year OS: HPV (+) 65% and HPV (-) 36%; p = 0.007; DFS HPV (+) 83% and HPV (-) 43%; p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant interaction effect between HPV status and PIK3CA mutation regarding DFS (Interaction test: p = 0.026). In HPV (+) patients, PIK3CA wild-type is associated with a significant 4.64 times increase in the hazard of recurrence or death (HR = 4.64; 95% CI 1.02-20.99; p = 0.047). Overall, PIK3CA gene mutations are present in a large number of patients and may help define patient subsets who can benefit from therapies targeting the PI3K pathway. The systematic assessment of PIK3CA gene mutations in HNSCC patients will require further methodological standardisation.

Automated summary

Mutations of the PIK3CA gene are associated with the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). In a Portuguese cohort, 39% of patients had PIK3CA mutations, but there were no significant associations with HPV status or patient survival. In HPV-positive patients, the PIK3CA wild-type is associated with a significant increase in the hazard of recurrence or death.