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Human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal cancer: HPV and p16 status in the recurrent versus parent tumor
Author(s) -
Vainshtein Jeffrey,
McHugh Jonathan B.,
Spector Matthew E.,
Walline Heather M.,
Komarck Christine M.,
Stenmark Matthew H.,
Prince Mark E.,
Worden Francis P.,
Wolf Gregory T.,
Bradford Carol R.,
Chepeha Douglas B.,
Carey Thomas,
Eisbruch Avraham
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23548
Subject(s) - medicine , oncology , chemoradiotherapy , human papillomavirus , concordance , cancer , primary tumor , metastasis
Abstract Background Although typically associated with a favorable prognosis, a minority of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related (+) oropharyngeal cancers recur after chemoradiation. We postulated that a minor HPV‐negative tumor subfraction may be responsible for recurrences of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer. Methods Paired untreated primary and recurrent tumor specimens were identified for 37 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who received definitive chemoradiotherapy at our institution. Concordance in HPV/p16 expression between primary and recurrent tumors was assessed. Results Among 31 patients with HPV+/p16+ primary tumors, 30 (97%) retained evidence of both HPV and p16 expression at recurrence (27 HPV+/p16+; 3 HPV+/p16‐partial). One (3%) initially HPV+/p16+ patient developed an HPV‐negative/p16‐negative lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), representing either a discordant oropharyngeal cancer metastasis or second primary tumor. Conclusion HPV‐related oropharyngeal cancers retain HPV+/p16+ expression at recurrence. Our results fail to provide evidence that a minor HPV‐negative tumor subfraction is responsible for biologically aggressive behavior of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer that recurs after chemoradiation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37 : 8–11, 2015