Analysis of the overall survival of patients with HPV16 positive and negative oropharyngeal carcinomas depending on the therapy carried out

Background Although HPV16-positive and negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) represent two distinct tumor entities with different characteristics, they are currently treated in clinical manner.

Material and Methods 340 patients with primarily curative treatment of OSCC at the Münster University Hospital were included in this study between 2000 and 2016. In addition to the standardized histopathology, the tissue was examined for HPV type 16-specific DNA using PCR as an indicator for HPV-induced carcinogenesis. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used for the analysis of overall survival (GS).

Results The patients after tumor surgery (OP) alone, after surgery with adjuvant radiation (RT) and after surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (RCT) showed no statistically significant difference in relation to the 5-year overall survival rate (5-JGÜ) comparing the HPV status subgroups of OSCC. In contrast, patients receiving primary RCT showed a significantly worse 5year-GS in the HPV-negative group compared to the HPV-positive group (56.3% vs. 86.3%, p=0.010).

Conclusion With regard to surgical resections of the OSCC, there is no difference between the HPV16 groups in our collective supporting current clinical practice. However, primary RCT for HPV16-associated OSCC shows a significantly better treatment response. Accordingly, the current treatment protocol of primary RCT for HPV16-positive OSCC should be reevaluated .

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022