Verrucous carcinoma of the head and neck – not a human papillomavirus‐related tumour?

Abstract

Association between verrucous carcinoma (VC) of the head and neck and human papillomaviruses (HPV) is highly controversial. Previous prevalence studies focused mostly on α-PV, while little is known about other PV genera. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of a broad spectrum of HPV in VC of the head and neck using sensitive and specific molecular assays. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 30 VC and 30 location-matched normal tissue samples were analysed, by using six different polymerase chain reaction-based methods targeting DNA of at least 87 HPV types from α-PV, β-PV, γ-PV and μ-PV genera, and immunohistochemistry against p16 protein. α-PV, γ-PV and μ-PV were not detected. β-PV DNA was detected in 5/30 VC (16.7%) and in 18/30 normal tissue samples (60.0%): HPV-19, -24 and -36 were identified in VC, and HPV-5, -9, -12, -23, -24, -38, -47, -49 and -96 in normal tissue, whereas HPV type was not determined in 2/5 cases of VC and in 6/18 normal tissue samples. p16 expression was detected in a subset of samples and was higher in VC than in normal tissue. However, the reaction was predominantly cytoplasmic and only occasionally nuclear, and the extent of staining did not exceed 75%. Our results indicate that α-PV, γ-PV and μ-PV are not associated with aetiopathogenesis of VC of the head and neck. β-PV DNA in a subset of VC and normal tissue might reflect incidental colonization, but its potential biological significance needs further investigation.

Betapapillomaviruses in the anal canal of HIV positive and HIV negative men who have sex with men

“…Moreover, ␤-PV types can be detected in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals, not only in various cutaneous lesions but also in "healthy" skin and hairs plucked from different anatomical locations [13]. Surprisingly, it has recently been shown that ␤-PVs also infect the mucosal epithelium of the head and neck region and esophagus [3][4][5][6][7], as well as the mucocutaneous epithelium of the anal canal/edge [8], indicating a broader spectrum of epithelial tropism than previously appreciated for HPVs from the genus ␤-PV. However, the clinical significance of these infections remains elusive.…”

“…␤-PVs are etiologically associated with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder that is characterized by chronic ␤-PV infection and subsequent development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. An etiological role of ␤-PV in the development of precancerous lesions and cancer of the skin in organ-transplant patients, as well as in immunocompetent individuals, has also been recently suggested [3][4][5][6][7]. Moreover, we recently co-characterized a novel ␤-PV type (HPV-120; ENA http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2014.07.009 1386-6532/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.…”

Update from the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours: What is New in the 2017 WHO Blue Book for Tumours of the Hypopharynx, Larynx, Trachea and Parapharyngeal Space

“…Thus, it appears that VSCC of the head and neck (Fig. 2a) is not associated with infection with HPV [34][35][36].…”

Morphological characteristics of conjunctival squamous papillomas in relation to human papillomavirus infection

“…Total DNA was extracted from five 10 µm thick sections of each paraffin tissue block, as described previously 13. In order to prevent tissue contamination, the microtome blade and surface were extensively cleaned after each sectioning with xylene and DNA Remover solution (Minerva Biolabs, Berlin, Germany).…”