Prevalence of human papillomaviruses in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Lithuania and Belarus

Cervical Cytology–Histology Correlation Based on the American Society of Cytopathology Guideline (2017) at the Russian National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology

Recent evidence suggests that a cytology–histology correlation (CHC) with discrepancy detection can both evaluate errors and improve the sensitivity and specificity of the cytologic method. We aimed to analyze the errors in cytologic–histologic discrepancies according to the CHC protocol guideline of the American Society of Cytopathology (2017). This retrospective study included 273 patients seen at the National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology (Moscow, Russia) between January 2019 and September 2021. The patients’ mean age was 34 ± 8.1 years. The cytology–histology agreement was noted in 158 cases (57.9%). Major discrepancies were found in 21 cases (7.6%), while minor discrepancies were noted in 93 cases (34.1%). The reason for 13 (4.8%) discrepancies was a colposcopy sampling error and, in 46 (16.8%) cases, the reason was a Papanicolaou (PAP) test sampling error. The discrepancy between primary and reviewed cytology was due interpretive errors in 13 (4.8%) cases and screening errors in 42 (15.4%) cases. We demonstrated that the ASC guidelines facilitate cervical CHC. A uniform application of these guidelines would standardize cervical CHCs internationally, provide a scope for the inter-laboratory comparison of data, and enhance self-learning and peer learning.

Trends and age-period-cohort analysis of upper aerodigestive tract and stomach cancer mortality in Lithuania, 1987-2016

OBJECTIVES

Lithuania has among the highest mortality rates for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and stomach cancer in Europe. The aim of this study was to analyze trends during the period 1987-2016 in Lithuania, evaluating the effect of birth-cohort, period, and age.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational time trends study.

METHODS

Data on numbers of deaths and population size by each calendar year in 5-year age groups in 1987-2016 were obtained from the WHO mortality database. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to evaluate changes in time trends. Age-period-cohort analysis was performed to assess age, calendar period of death, and birth-cohort effects.

RESULTS

UADT cancer mortality in men increased between 1987 and 1993, annual percentage change (APC) = 6.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8, 9.4), and was stable thereafter, APC = 0.3% (95% CI: 0.0, 0.6). The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 23.6/100,000 in 2016. In women, rates increased steadily by 1.6% (95% CI: 0.9%, 2.3%) per year from 1987 to 2016, ASMR = 2.3/100,000 in 2016. Age-period-cohort analysis showed statistically significant cohort effects in both sexes. In men, rates peaked in birth-cohorts born around 1952, declined in 1957-1962 birth-cohorts, and fluctuated in later birth-cohorts. In women, rates started rising in 1947 birth cohort and peaked in the 1967 birth cohort. Stomach cancer mortality declined throughout the study period in men by -2.4%, (95% CI: -2.6%, -2.1%) annually, and women by -2.8% (95% CI: -3.1%, -2.4%), ASMR = 16.1/100,000 and 6.0/100,000 in 2016, respectively. Birth-cohort effects were significant in both sexes. Rates decreased in cohorts born around 1920 onwards, but declines in the youngest generations have slowed in men and reversed in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The birth-cohort effects in UADT and stomach cancer mortality trends imply that the elevated burden in Lithuania could be reduced by effective strategies targeting known risk factors. Further research in causes of unfavorable trends in younger cohorts is warranted.

Correlation of human papillomavirus infection and clinical parameters with five-year survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study associated Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and other clinical parameters with five-year survival of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma were enlisted. HPV status and subtypes were established through polymerase chain reaction performed in a previously published study. Clinical data including five-year survival were obtained through institutional medical records.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients (67.9 per cent) were positive for HPV. Of these, 85 patients were HPV 16 positive while 2 patients were HPV 18 positive. The mean survival time for HPV positive patients was 44.3 months, whereas survival time for HPV negative patients was 46.9 months. Univariate analysis showed that HPV status in oral squamous cell carcinoma was not a statistically significant factor in determining five-year survival rate (p = 0.386).

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of HPV positive oral squamous cell carcinoma in Pakistan; however, there is no difference in the five-year survival rate when compared to HPV negative oral squamous cell carcinoma.

High level of Tregs is a positive prognostic marker in patients with HPV-positive oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been proved as one of the etiological factors of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Patients with tumors of viral etiology have a lower recurrence rate and better prognosis. OPSCC is linked to an alteration in the immune system. Only a limited number of studies have correlated both the immunological parameters and HPV status with patient prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether HPV infection and the immunological status influence patient prognosis individually or in concurrence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty patients with oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas were enrolled. They were divided into HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups based on the expression of HPV 16 E6 mRNA. Basic lymphocyte subpopulations were determined in the peripheral blood by means of flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Significantly better disease-specific survival (DSS) was observed in patients with HPV-positive tumors. Nodal status, tumor grade, recurrence, and CD8+/Tregs ratio were identified as factors influencing DSS. A higher level of Tregs and a lower ratio of CD8/Tregs influenced overall survival (OS) independently of HPV status and age. Patients with HPV-positive tumors and high levels of Tregs survived significantly better than patients from the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Better survival is associated with HPV positivity and elevated Tregs levels. Our data suggest that HPV infection and Tregs do not influence patient prognosis in concurrence.