Infection and coinfection by human papillomavirus, Epstein–Barr virus and Merkel cell polyomavirus in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: a retrospective study

Abstract

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as an important risk factor for laryngeal carcinogenesis. Although HPV-16 and 18 have been strongly implicated, the presence of other high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes or the coinfection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPV) may increase the risk, but their etiological association has not been definitively established.MethodsWe characterized the genotype-specific HPV and the frequency of EBV and MCPV infections through the detection of their DNA in 195 laryngeal specimens of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) histologically confirmed.ResultsHPV DNA was detected in 93 (47.7%) specimens. HPV-11 was the most frequent with 68 cases (73.1%), and HPV-52 was the most frequently HR-HPV found with 51 cases, which corresponds to 54.8% of all HPV-positive specimens. EBV DNA was detected in 54 (27.7%) tumor tissue specimens of which 25 (46.3%) were in coinfection with HPV. MCPV DNA was detected only in 11 (5.6%) cases of which 5 (45.4%) were in coinfection with an HR-HPV. No association between the presence of DNA of the three examined viruses and the patient smoking habits, alcohol consumption, age, the keratinization status, differentiation grade, or localization of the tumor in the larynx were found.DiscussionHPV-52 was the most prevalent HR-HPV, which may suggest that this and other genotypes in addition to HPV-16 and 18 could be considered for prophylaxis. However, further studies including non-cancer larynx cases and the evaluation of other molecular markers and viral co-infection mechanisms are needed to determine the role of the different HR-HPV genotypes, EBV, and MCPV in the etiology of SCC of the larynx.

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and polyomaviruses are detectable in oropharyngeal cancer and EBV may have prognostic impact

“…Our results also support the paradigm of HPV as the predominant virus in OPSCC. Although several viruses have been detected in HNSCC, the most important viruses are HPV in OPSCC and EBV in NPC [ 1 – 3 , 5 , 14 , 26 ]. The etiologic role of HPV and EBV in the pathogenesis and prognosis of OPSCC and NPC, respectively, is well-established [ 1 , 2 , 19 , 21 ].…”

“…Polyomaviruses have been detected in various cancers [3,7,23,25,26]. The etiological role of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma is well-established [25], and various polyomaviruses have also been found in HNSCC [3,26]. Polyomaviruses may work as cofactors in malignant transformation and tumor progression [3,27].…”

Effect of HPV Infection on the Occurrence and Development of Laryngeal Cancer: A Review

“…Some studies have shown that the incidence of laryngeal cancer is closely related to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection and pointed out that HR-HPV infection plays a certain role in inducing laryngeal cancer 19. In recent years, although a few studies 27 have examined the infection frequency of HPV and EBV in LSCC tissue samples, the role of the different HR-HPV genotypes and EBV in the etiology of LSCC has not been further studied. One study showed a significant correlation between tumor size and lymph node metastasis with combined versus single infection 62.…”

Merkel cell polyomavirus detected in head and neck carcinomas from Chile

“…Previously, we reported the presence of high-risk HPV in a subset of oral carcinomas from Chilean patients [18]. Thus, a possible collaboration between HPV and MCPyV in head and neck cancer is an interesting point that needs to be investigated in the future, as previously reported in laryngeal cancer [34].…”