Detection and Subtyping of Humam Papillomavirus in Laryngeal Cancers

Sun, Dong Il; Kim, Min Sik; Cho, Jae Hong; Park, Young Hak; Cho, Seung Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mounting evidence suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) might play an etiologic role in head and neck cancers. Both epidemiologic and molecular data support that certain types of HPV, such as HPV-16,-18 are associated with specific clinical and pathological characteristics and these are classified into high risk group. The aims of this study were to analyze the relationship between the presence of HPV in tissues from patients with laryngeal cancer and clinicopathologic characteristics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
HPV was detected in 39 laryngeal cancer specimens and 12 cervical lymph node tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To identify the types of HPV, positive results specimens were examined by PCR with HPV-16,-18 E6 type specific primer.
RESULTS
HPV was detected in 9 cases (23.1%) among the 39 laryngeal cancers. Detection rate was higher in the tumors that infiltrate less than 1cm to the parenchyme (p=0.032). HPV-16 was detected in 5 cases (12.8%), HPV-18 in 1 case (2.6%). In cervical lymph node, HPV was found not only in histologically positive nodes (22.2%), but also in histologically negative nodes (33.3%).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that types of HPV have no relationship with clinicopathologic parameters and that HPV play a role not only in the early stage tumorigenesis but also in the cervical lymph node metastasis.