Prevalence and characteristics of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer in France

Cancer Epidemiol. 2019 Aug:61:89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.05.007. Epub 2019 May 31.

Abstract

Background: France has one of the highest incidence of head and neck cancers in Europe. Despite this, the epidemiological impact of high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) remains poorly investigated.

Methods: We prospective assessed the proportion of oropharyngeal cancers due to HR-HPV in 15 hospitals throughout France. HPV-status was determined by p16-immunohistochemistry, and by detection of HPV-DNA using in situ hybridization. Cancers were classified as HPV-driven if both p16-immunohistochemistry and HPV-DNA assays were positive. Demographical and clinical features were recorded.

Results: 291 patients with palatine-tonsil or tongue-base cancers were recruited from March-2011 to July-2012. Of these, 43.1% of samples were p16-positive and 37.7% were positive for both p16 and HPV-DNA. Prognosis was significantly better in patients with HPV-driven cancers, with smoking negatively impacting patients' oncological outcomes.

Conclusion: In France, more than a third of tonsillar and tongue base cancers are HPV-driven. More research concerning the evolution of HPV-driven cancers over time is needed.

Keywords: France; Human papillomavirus (HPV); cancer(s); epidemiology; neoplasm(s); oral/oropharynx/oropharyngeal; prevalence; tonsil/tonsillar.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / complications*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies