Classical risk factors, but not HPV status, predict survival after chemoradiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer patients

Prognosis of Pneumonia in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Who Received Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Pneumonia is a significant complication in these patients. This study aims to identify pneumonia risk factors and their impact on survival in HNSCC patients undergoing CCRT. Data from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) were retrospectively reviewed for patients treated between January 2007 and December 2019. Of 6959 patients, 1601 (23.01%) developed pneumonia, resulting in a median overall survival (OS) of 1.2 years compared to 4.9 years in the non-pneumonia group (p < 0.001). The pneumonia group included older patients with advanced tumors, more patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), more patients with invasive procedures, longer chemotherapy and radiotherapy durations, and lower body weight. The 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS rates were significantly lower in the pneumonia group. Multivariate analysis identified alcohol consumption, DM, gastrostomy, nasogastric tube use, longer chemotherapy, and a 2-week radiotherapy delay as independent risk factors. Understanding these risks can lead to early interventions to prevent severe pneumonia-related complications. A better understanding of the risks of pneumonia enables early and aggressive interventions to prevent severe complications.

OSCC in Never-Smokers and Never-Drinkers Is Associated with Increased Expression of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Better Survival

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic differences of oral squamous cell carcinoma of never-smokers/never-drinkers and smokers/drinkers. Immunohistochemical staining for CD4, CD8, FoxP3, CD1a, and p16 was performed in 131 oral squamous cell carcinomas from smokers/drinkers and never-smokers/never-drinkers. Associations of smoking/drinking status with clinicopathologic data, immunohistochemical antibody expression, and survival were examined. Oral squamous cell carcinoma in never-smokers/never-drinkers was associated with the female gender (p < 0.001). Never-smokers/never-drinkers were older at diagnosis than smokers/drinkers (p < 0.001). Never-smokers/never-drinkers had more tumors in the maxilla, mandible, and tongue (p < 0.001). Pre-existing oral potentially malignant disorders appeared to be more common in never-smokers/never-drinkers (p < 0.001). Perineural invasion was more common in smokers/drinkers (p = 0.039). Never-smoking/never-drinking was associated with better overall survival (p = 0.004) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.029). High CD4+ T cell infiltration was associated with never-smoking/never-drinking (p = 0.008). Never-smokers/never-drinkers also showed increased CD8+ T cell infiltration (p = 0.001) and increased FoxP3+ Treg infiltration (p = 0.023). Furthermore, the total group of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was associated with never smoking/never drinking (p = 0.005). To conclude oral squamous cell carcinoma of the never-smokers/never-drinkers appears to be a distinct type of tumor, as it appears to have unique clinical and pathologic features and a more immunogenic microenvironment.

Head and Neck Cancer Patients' Survival According to HPV Status, miRNA Profiling, and Tumour Features-A Cohort Study

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are a heterogeneous group of tumours mainly associated with tobacco and alcohol use and human papillomavirus (HPV). Over 90% of all HNC are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Sample material from patients diagnosed with primary HNSCC (n = 76) treated with surgery as primary treatment at a single centre were assessed for HPV genotype, miR-9-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-29a-3p and miR-100-5p expression levels. Clinical and pathological data were collected from medical records. Patients were enrolled between 2015 and 2019 and followed-up until November 2022. Overall survival, disease-specific survival and disease-free survival were assessed and correlated with clinical, pathological, and molecular data. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess different risk factors. In the study, male gender, HPV-negative HNSCC (76.3%) mostly located in the oral region (78.9%) predominated. Most patients had stage IV cancer (47.4%), and the overall survival rate was 50%. HPV was found not to affect survival, indicating that in this population, classic risk factors predominate. The presence of both perineural and angioinvasion was strongly associated with survival in all analyses. Of all miRNAs assessed, only upregulation of miR-21 was consistently shown to be an independent predictor of poor prognosis and may thus serve as a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC.

Molecular drivers of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma in non-smoking and non-drinking patients: what do we know so far?

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is one of the most common head and neck cancers worldwide. It is well known that risk factors for OCSCC include tobacco and excess alcohol consumption. However, in recent years, OCSCC incidence has been increasing in patients without these traditional risk factors. The cause of this increase is unclear and various genetic, environmental, and infectious factors have been hypothesized to play a role. Additionally, there are expert opinions that oral cancer in non-smoking, non-drinking (NSND) patients have a distinct phenotype resulting in more aggressive disease presentation and poorer prognosis. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge for oral cavity cancer in patients without traditional risk factors.

Comparison of time-to-event machine learning models in predicting oral cavity cancer prognosis

BACKGROUND

Applying machine learning to predicting oral cavity cancer prognosis is important in selecting candidates for aggressive treatment following diagnosis. However, models proposed so far have only considered cancer survival as discrete rather than dynamic outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the model performance of different machine learning-based algorithms that incorporate time-to-event data. These algorithms included DeepSurv, DeepHit, neural net-extended time-dependent cox model (Cox-Time), and random survival forest (RSF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort of 313 oral cavity cancer patients were obtained from electronic health records. Models were trained on patient data following preprocessing. Predictors were based on demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment information of the cases. Outcomes were the disease-specific and overall survival. Multivariable analyses were conducted to select significant prognostic features associated with tumor prognosis. Two models were generated per algorithm based on all-prognostic features and significant-prognostic features following statistical analysis. Concordance index (c-index) and integrated Brier scores were used as performance evaluators and model stability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) calculated from these measures obtained from the cross-validation folds.

RESULTS

While all models were satisfactory, better discriminatory performance and calibration was observed for disease-specific than overall survival (mean c-index: 0.85 vs 0.74; mean integrated Brier score: 0.12 vs 0.17). DeepSurv performed best in terms of discrimination for both outcomes (c-indices: 0.76 -0.89) while RSF produced better calibrated survival estimates (integrated Brier score: 0.06 -0.09). Model stability of the algorithms varied with the outcomes as Cox-Time had the best intraclass correlation coefficient (mean ICC: 1.00) for disease-specific survival while DeepSurv was most stable for overall survival prediction (mean ICC: 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Machine learning algorithms based on time-to-event outcomes are successful in predicting oral cavity cancer prognosis with DeepSurv and RSF producing the best discriminative performance and calibration.

Prognostic Significance of a Scoring System Combining p16, Smoking, and Drinking Status in a Series of 131 Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancers

Background

Tobacco and alcohol are two main risk factors associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Studies showed that human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in the etiology of this cancer. HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients present in general a better response to conventional therapy and better overall survival (OS). However, OSCC is a heterogeneous disease regarding treatment. This study aimed to identify more effective prognostic factors associated with a poor clinical outcome for OSCC patients to improve treatment selection.

Materials and Methods

OSCC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017, in two Belgian hospitals, were included. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were extracted from medical records. HPV status was determined through p16 immunohistochemistry. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses allowed to identify variables prognostic for OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Kaplan–Meier survival curves have been assessed for survival.

Results

The study included 131 patients. Statistics showed that monotherapies were significantly associated with a shorter OS; p16 overexpression was significantly associated with a weak consumption of tobacco or alcohol, and a high p16 expression was significantly associated with both longer RFS and OS. The study validated that tobacco and alcohol consumption were significantly correlated with poorer RFS and poorer OS. Only p16 expression trended to be significant for RFS when compared to smoking and drinking habits, while p16 upregulation and alcohol use were both vital for OS indicating that p16 is an independent and significant prognostic factor in OSCC patients. Finally, a scoring system combining p16, tobacco, and alcohol status was defined and was significantly associated with longer RFS and longer OS for nonsmoker and nondrinker p16-positive OSCC patients.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that the overexpression of the p16 protein could be viewed as a factor of good prognosis for RFS and OS of OSCC patients. The prognostic significance of a scoring system combining p16 expression, smoking, and drinking status was evaluated and concluded to be a more effective tool to determine therapeutic orientations based on the risk factors for better treatment relevance and survival.

A 14-Marker Multiplexed Imaging Panel for Prognostic Biomarkers and Tumor Heterogeneity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recent advances made in treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) highlight the need for new prediction tools to guide therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aimed to develop a HNSCC-targeting multiplex immunohistochemical (IHC) panel that can evaluate prognostic factors and the intratumor heterogeneity of HNSCC. To identify IHC-based tissue biomarkers that constitute new multiplex IHC panel, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to analyze reported IHC biomarkers in laryngeal and pharyngeal SCC in the period of 2008–2018. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Reactome pathway databases were used to validate the prognostic and functional significance of the identified biomarkers. A 14-marker chromogenic multiplex IHC panel including identified biomarkers was used to analyze untreated HNSCC tissue. Forty-five high-quality studies and thirty-one candidate tissue biomarkers were identified (N = 7062). Prognostic validation in TCGA laryngeal and pharyngeal SCC cohort (N = 205) showed that β-catenin, DKK1, PINCH1, ADAM10, and TIMP1 were significantly associated with poor prognosis, which were related to functional categories such as immune system, cellular response, cell cycle, and developmental systems. Selected biomarkers were assembled to build a 14-marker panel, evaluating heterogeneity and polarized expression of tumor biomarkers in the tissue structures, which was particularly related to activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Integrated IHC analysis based on a systemic review and meta-analysis provides an in situ proteomics tool to assess the aggressiveness and intratumor heterogeneity of HNSCC.

Impact of Smoking on the Survival of Patients With High-risk HPV-positive HNSCC: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/AIM

High risk Human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) and smoking are independant risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). While hr-HPV⁺ HNSCC has a better prognosis than smoking-associated HNSCC no systematic data are yet available about the combined risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis to assess the overall survival of HNSCC patients relative to the hr-HPV and smoking status. A literature review up to November 2019 was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane Library using the search terms 'HPV, Smoking and HNSCC'.

RESULTS

Nine out of 748 articles were included, 1,436 out of 2,080 patients were hr-HPV⁺ The prevalence of hr-HPV⁺ smokers was 36%. The meta-analysis showed a significantly better 5-year overall survival for HPV⁺ non-smokers compared to smokers with risk ratio of 1.94 (95% confidence intervaI=1.46-2.58).

CONCLUSION

Smoking is a negative prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with hr-HPV⁺ HNSCC and should thus be an important part of staging and treatment.

Survival Outcomes and Treatment Decision by Human Papillomavirus Status Among Patients With Stage IVC Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

To investigate the influence of human papillomavirus (HPV) status on survival outcomes and treatment decisions for patients with de novo stage IV head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC).

Methods

Patients initially diagnosed with de novo stage IVC HNSCC between 2010 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cox multivariable analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors associated with head and neck cancers specific survival (HNCSS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

We identified 303 patients who received chemotherapy in this study, including 52.5% of them had HPV-positive disease. HPV-positive HNSCC had better HNCSS (P < 0.001) and OS (P < 0.001) compared to those with HPV-negative disease. The results of Cox multivariable analyses showed that HPV-negative status (P = 0.007), N3 stage (P = 0.004), bone metastases (P < 0.001), and lung metastases (P = 0.003) were associated with worse HNCSS. Similar results were found regarding the OS. The sensitivity analyses indicated that HPV-positive HNSCC patients who were treated with radiotherapy had better survival outcomes. However, no survival benefits were found in those with HPV-positive disease receiving surgery. For HPV-negative patients, no survival benefit was observed among those treated with radiotherapy or surgery.

Conclusions

Approximately half of the stage IVC HNSCC patients are HPV-related. The presence of HPV infection appears to be strongly associated with the survival outcome in patients with de novo stage IV HNSCC. Determination of HPV status may help guide clinicians in prognostic assessment and treatment decision-making in this population.

Viral markers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the detection of p16INK4a, human papillomavirus (HPV), and Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV)

PURPOSE

This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the distribution of EBV and HPV stratified according to histological NPC type.

MATERIALS & METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis to produce pooled prevalence estimates in a random-effects model. We also performed calculations for attributable fractions of viral combinations in NPC, stratified according to histological type.

RESULTS

There was a higher prevalence of HPV DNA in WHO Type I (34.4%) versus WHO Type II/III (18.4%). The attributable fractions of WHO Type I NPC was predominantly double negative EBV(-) HPV(-) NPC (56.4%), and EBV(-) HPV(+) NPC (21.5%), in contrast to the predominant infection in WHO Type II/III which was EBV(+) HPV(-) NPC (87.5%). Co-infection of both EBV and HPV was uncommon, and double-negative infection was more common in WHO Type I NPC.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of WHO Type I NPC was either double-negative EBV(-)HPV(-) or EBV(-)HPV(+).

Evidence for different molecular parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of nonsmokers and nondrinkers: Systematic review and meta-analysis on HPV, p16, and TP53

BACKGROUND

The goal of this review was to present an overview of the currently identified molecular parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) of nonsmokers and nondrinkers (NSND).

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Of the 902 analyzed unique studies, 74 were included in a quantitative synthesis and 24 in a meta-analysis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was reported as a molecular parameter in 38 studies, followed by p16 and TP53 (23 and 14 studies, respectively). The variety of other molecular parameters concerned sporadic findings in small numbers of NSND.

CONCLUSIONS

HNSCC in NSND is more often related to HPV and p16 overexpression compared to tumors of smokers-drinkers. In a third of virus-negative tumors, TP53 mutations were detected with a mutational profile associated with aging and ultraviolet light exposure rather than to tobacco consumption.

The Impact of Smoking Cessation and Continuation on Recurrence and Survival in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

The impact of smoking continuation or cessation on the outcome of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients concerning recurrence and survival rates is not well understood. We aimed to analyze the prognostic role of smoking habits in patients with newly diagnosed HNC and the effects on survival, recurrence rates, and second primary tumor (SPT) development.

METHODS

A systematic literature review of the databases PubMed and Web of Science was performed in October 2019 using the search words "head and neck cancer" and "smoking cessation." Articles analyzing the effects of ongoing smoking or smoking cessation in HNC patients were included.

RESULTS

Twelve studies published from 1993 to 2016 including 6,308 patients with HNC of stages I-IV were eligible for analysis. The median follow-up was 5 years. Six of 8 studies revealed an improved outcome concerning the median overall survival or survival rates favoring smoking cessation. Regarding recurrence rates, 5 of 6 studies indicated a statistically significant benefit associated with smoking cessation, and 2 of 3 studies showed a lower risk for SPT associated with postdiagnosis smoking cessation.

CONCLUSION

Smoking cessation in patients with newly diagnosed HNC is associated with improved outcomes concerning overall survival, recurrence rates, and SPTs. Further research is needed to validate these results and to evaluate the specific effects on different tumor types and treatment approaches.

HPV Involvement in the Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Treatment in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Active human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been identified as an important additional risk factor and seems to be associated with a better prognosis in non-drinker and non-smoker young patients with oropharyngeal SCC. The better response of the immune system against the HPV-induced HNSCC is suspected as a potential explanation for the better prognosis of young patients. To further assess this hypothesis, our review aims to shed light the current knowledge about the impact of HPV infection on the immune response in the context of HNSCC, focusing on the innate immune system, particularly highlighting the role of macrophages, Langerhans and myeloid cells, and on the adaptative immune system, pointing out the involvement of T regulatory, T CD8 and T CD4 lymphocytes. In addition, we also review the preventive (HPV vaccines) and therapeutic (checkpoint inhibitors) strategies against HPV-related HNSCC, stressing the use of anti-CTLA4, PD-L1, PD-L2 antibodies alone and in combination with other agents able to modulate immune responses.

Mutation signature analysis identifies increased mutation caused by tobacco smoke associated DNA adducts in larynx squamous cell carcinoma compared with oral cavity and oropharynx

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) arise from mucosal keratinocytes of the upper aero-digestive tract. Despite a common cell of origin and similar driver-gene mutations which divert cell fate from differentiation to proliferation, HNSCC are considered a heterogeneous group of tumors categorized by site of origin within the aero-digestive mucosa, and the presence or absence of HPV infection. Tobacco use is a major driver of carcinogenesis in HNSCC and is a poor prognosticator that has previously been associated with poor immune cell infiltration and higher mutation numbers. Here, we study patterns of mutations in HNSCC that are derived from the specific nucleotide changes and their surrounding nucleotide context (also known as mutation signatures). We identify that mutations linked to DNA adducts associated with tobacco smoke exposure are predominantly found in the larynx. Presence of this class of mutation, termed COSMIC signature 4, is responsible for the increased burden of mutation in this anatomical sub-site. In addition, we show that another mutation pattern, COSMIC signature 5, is positively associated with age in HNSCC from non-smokers and that larynx SCC from non-smokers have a greater number of signature 5 mutations compared with other HNSCC sub-sites. Immunohistochemistry demonstrates a significantly lower Ki-67 proliferation index in size matched larynx SCC compared with oral cavity SCC and oropharynx SCC. Collectively, these observations support a model where larynx SCC are characterized by slower growth and increased susceptibility to mutations from tobacco carcinogen DNA adducts.

Cost-effectiveness of Molecular Profile Patient Selection for First-line Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

PURPOSE

Patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer are offered platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab; however, this strategy is not cost-effective. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical predictive molecular test to identify and treat only patients potentially responsive to cetuximab (C) added to platinum-fluorouracil (PF) (PF + C POS) versus the administration of PF + C to all patients (PF + C ALL).

METHODS

A Markov model has been developed to estimate health outcomes (quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]; life years [LYs]) and costs of the 2 strategies on a time horizon of 3 years from the Italian health care perspective. For the response to treatment, a definition, including partial or complete response, has been applied. In the base-case scenario, molecular test sensitivity, specificity, and cost have been assumed equal to 85%, 70%, and €4000, respectively.

FINDINGS

The model estimated 0.5285 QALYs (0.9245 LYs) and 0.5666 QALYs (0.9949 LYs) for PF + C POS and PF + C ALL, respectively. The incremental cost-utility ratio of PF + C ALL versus PF + C POS was €112,462/QALY, suggesting the administration of PF + C only to patients who would be responsive to it.

IMPLICATIONS

The use of cetuximab with chemotherapy could be a cost-effective choice in first-line recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer if based on a molecular selection able to identify which patients will achieve partial or complete response to the treatment. The developed model may be usefully applied to new emerging treatments, such as immunotherapeutic agents in the same setting.

Impact of HPV Infection on the Immune System in Oropharyngeal and Non-Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Objectives: To review the current knowledge regarding the involvement of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the immune system in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted to identify articles published between 1990 and 2019 pertaining to tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) in HNSCC using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Issues of clinical relevance, including tumor location, the number of tumor samples, the inclusion of additional specimens (dysplastic or normal mucosa), tumor size, methods used for HPV detection, relationship between antigen expression and patient characteristics (age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.), and prognostic data (overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS)) were assessed by four blinded investigators. Results: The search identified 335 relevant studies, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 7 studies focused on the peripheral blood immune cell concentration in patients with HNSCC according to HPV status, and 36 studies investigated TICs in the intraepithelial and/or stromal compartment(s) according to HPV status. The immune cells studied were CD8+ T cells (N = 19), CD4+ T cells (N = 7), regulatory T cells (Tregs, N = 15), macrophages (N = 13), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs, N = 4), and Langerhans cells (LCs, N = 2). Conclusions: Irrespective of tumor location, CD8+ and CD4+ T cells appear to play a key role in the development of HPV−related HNSCC, and their infiltration is likely associated with a significant impact on OS and RFS. To date, the roles and prognostic value of Tregs, macrophages, DCs and MDSCs remain unclear.

Infiltration of FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells is a Strong and Independent Prognostic Factor in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) are characterized by a large heterogeneity in terms of the location and risk factors. For a few years now, immunotherapy seems to be a promising approach in the treatment of these cancers, but a better understanding of the immune context could allow to offer a personalized treatment and thus probably increase the survival of HNSCC patients. In this context, we evaluated the infiltration of FoxP3+ Tregs on 205 human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded HNSCC and we assessed its prognostic value compared to other potential prognostic factors, including HPV infection. First, we found a positive correlation of FoxP3+ Treg infiltration between the intra-tumoral (IT) and the stromal (ST) compartments of the tumors (p < 0.0001). A high infiltration of these cells in both compartments was associated with longer recurrence-free (ST, RFS, p = 0.007; IT, RFS, p = 0.019) and overall survivals (ST, OS, p = 0.002; ST, OS, p = 0.002) of HNSCC patients. Early tumor stage (OS, p = 0.002) and differentiated tumors (RFS, p = 0.022; OS, p = 0.043) were also associated with favorable prognoses. Multivariate analysis revealed that FoxP3+ Treg stromal infiltration, tumor stage and histological grade independently influenced patient prognosis. In conclusion, the combination of these three markers seem to be an interesting prognostic signature for HNSCC.

HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer in Croatia - Demography and survival

Objectives

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Main HNSCC risk factors are tobacco, alcohol, and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) usually have different etiology, increasing incidence and often show an improved survival when compared to HPV-negative cases. The objective of the current study was to retrospectively examine the influence of HPV on the survival of OPSCC patients in a non-Western population setting.

Materials and methods

We determined the presence of HPV DNA and/or RNA in 99 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples of OPSCC patients treated between 2002 and 2015. Patients were compared based on laboratory, demographic, clinical, life style characteristics and survival.

Results

HPV RNA was found in 29.3% cases. However, groups based on HPV data (either RNA, DNA or retrospectively collected p16 staining) did not show significant differences. Overall, 5-year survival was 30% with minimal influence of the HPV positivity.

Conclusions

The HPV influence on survival of OPSCC patients is not identical between populations probably due to other factors overshadowing the HPV effect. This should be taken into account when treatment or policy decisions are made in each particular setting.

Involvement of HPV Infection in the Release of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection has been well-established as a risk factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The carcinogenic effect of HPV is mainly due to the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, which inhibit the functions of p53 and pRB, respectively. These oncoproteins could also play a role in the Warburg effect, thus favoring tumor immune escape. Here, we demonstrated that the pro-inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is expressed at higher levels in HPV-negative patients than in HPV-positive patients. However, the secretion of MIF is higher in HPV-positive human HNSCC cell lines, than in HPV-negative cell lines. In-HPV positive cells, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MIF inhibitor (4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine (4-IPP)) is higher than that in HPV-negative cells. This result was confirmed in vitro and in vivo by the use of murine SCCVII cell lines expressing either E6 or E7, or both E6 and E7. Finally, to examine the mechanism of MIF secretion, we conducted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) experiments, and observed that lactate production is increased in both the intracellular and conditioned media of HPV-positive cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that the stimulation of enzymes participating in the Warburg effect by E6 and E7 oncoproteins increases lactate production and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression, and finally induces MIF secretion.

Incidence and mortality trends in oral and oropharyngeal cancers in China, 2005-2013

BACKGROUND

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are among the most common cancers globally. This study aimed to assess the incidence and mortality trends of oral and oropharyngeal cancers in China between 2005 and 2013.

METHODS

Estimates of national trends of oral and oropharyngeal cancers were based on the data from Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Reports. The crude incidence rates of oral and oropharyngeal cancers between 2015 and 2035 were evaluated. The age-standardized rate was based on the world standard population.

RESULTS

It was estimated that 285,857 new cases and 132,698 deaths were related to oral and oropharyngeal cancers in China between 2005 and 2013, with mouth and tongue cancers being the most frequently diagnosed and the leading causes of death among all oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The incidence rates of oral and oropharyngeal cancer fluctuated from 1.69 to 1.89 per 100,000 person-years, and the mortality rate showed an increasing trend, ranging from 0.77 and 0.84 per 100,000 person-years. Males were more susceptible than females to oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The incidence and mortality rates of oral and oropharyngeal cancers were significantly higher in urban regions. The crude incidence rates of oral cancers are projected to increase from 2.26 to 3.21 per 100,000 person-years over the next 20 years in China.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancers fluctuated, whereas the mortality rate showed an upward trend from 2005 to 2013. A heavier burden from oral and oropharyngeal cancers is predicted in the next two decades in China.

Impact of the anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking on the prevalence of advanced oral cancer in Brazil

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the prevalence of oral cancer in Brazil according to the clinical stage, anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data referring to 31,217 cases of oral cancer, from 2000 to 2010, were obtained from the Integrator Module of the Hospital Registry of Cancer. Inconsistent data ("non-classified" cases) was eliminated and 21,160 cases were analyzed. The frequency distribution according to clinical stage, anatomical location, alcoholism and smoking was analyzed descriptively and through a binary logistic regression model (α<0.05). The clinical stage (dependent variable) was dichotomized in early stage (I and II) or advanced stage (III and IV). The year of diagnosis, anatomical location and deleterious habits (alcoholism and smoking) were considered independent variables.

RESULTS

The most frequent characteristics were: oropharynx location (n=3856, 18.41%), clinical stage IV (n=11924, 56.09%) and combined use of alcohol and tobacco (n=19226; 61.59%). The year 2009 (p<0.01, PR = 1.162, CI-95%=1.053-1.283) and location at the base of tongue (p<0.01, PR = 2.485, CI-95% = 2.182-2.807) presented a higher prevalence ratio for advanced stage oral cancer. The combined use of alcohol and tobacco showed a higher prevalence rate for the advanced clinical stage of cancer (p<0.01, PR =1.449, CI-95%=1.382-1.520) if compared to individuals without habits, or just alcoholics.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher prevalence of advanced stage of oral cancer is related to the localization at the base of the tongue and to the concomitant use of alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, it can be suggested that all these characteristics lead to a worse prognosis of oral cancer.

Polyomaviruses detectable in head and neck carcinomas

Polyomaviruses (PyV) independent or jointly with human papillomavirus (HPV), might have a role in head and neck carcinomas (HNSCC). We analyzed the prevalence and viral DNA loads of SV40, JCV and BKV with quantitative PCR (qPCR) and all 13 HPyVs with a novel Multiplex method in 82 HNSCC samples with known HPV status and disease-specific survival (DSS) and 24 HNSCC cell lines. JCV was the most prevalent PyV present in 37% of HNSCC and the most prevalent sites were lip (80%), larynx (67%) and oral cavity (59%). JCV viral load was highest in larynx but variation was wide (152514 mean copies/μg DNA, SD± 304820). BKV was found only in one oral carcinoma with low viral load. SV40 was detected in 60% lip and 20.7% oral carcinomas with low copy numbers (6.6- 23.7 copies/μg DNA). Altogether, 86% of JCV-positive samples were co-infected with HPV (p=0.001), with no impact on DSS. Agreement between qPCR and Multiplex methods was substantial (Cohen's kappa= 0.659). Multiplex method detected additional HPyV in five samples. JCV was found in 9/24 HNSCC cell lines, all deriving from oral cavity. Our data provide evidence that JCV might have a role in HNSCC as independent virus or co-factor of HPV.

High stromal Foxp3-positive T cell number combined to tumor stage improved prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), one of the most frequent cancers in the world, are largely infiltrated by inflammatory immune cells. Our aim was to evaluate the number of Foxp3+ T cells in HNSCC, reporting its prognostic power in comparison to other risk factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our clinical series was composed of 21 tumor-free peri-tumoral epithelia, 49 low grade dysplasia, 43 high grade dysplasia and 110 carcinoma samples including some cases with HPV infection. In vivo experiments were conducted on 80 C3H/HeN mice which were orthotopically injected with SCCVII CT, E7, E6 and E6/E7 cell lines.

RESULTS

Foxp3+ T cell infiltration increased with tumor progression from normal epithelia, dysplasia to carcinoma and the increase is more important in HPV+ patients than in negative ones. Animal experiments revealed that E7 oncoprotein expression was significantly associated with an increase in Foxp3+ T cell recruitment in tumor, a delay in tumor onset and improved animal survival. Univariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that high Foxp3+ T cell number in stromal compartment is associated with longer patient recurrence-free and overall survivals. Foxp3+ T cell number improved the prognostic value of tumor stage. Multivariate analyses reported that stromal Foxp3+ T cell number is a strong prognostic factor independent of classical risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, and HPV status.

CONCLUSION

Foxp3+ T cell number is a significant prognostic factor for HNSCC, improving the tumor stage, and that viral E7 may play a role in the Foxp3+ T cell infiltration to the tumor.

High infiltration of CD68+ macrophages is associated with poor prognoses of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients and is influenced by human papillomavirus

Incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) has increased over the last few decades. The reaction of the host immune system to these tumors remains biologically complex. Here, we investigated CD68+ macrophage numbers, reporting the prognostic value in comparison to other risk factors. We also examined CD68+ macrophage infiltration during disease progression regarding the impact of HPV infection, and we studied the role of HPV16-E6/E7 oncoproteins in CD68+ macrophage recruitment. CD68+ macrophage numbers were evaluated in 10 cases of tumor-free peri-tumoral epithelia, 43 cases of low-grade dysplasia, 45 cases of high-grade dysplasia and 110 cases of carcinoma. Our in vivo model was developed in 80 C3H/HeN mice orthotopically injected with HPV16-E6, -E7 or -E6/E7-transfected SCC-VII cell lines. High CD68+ macrophage numbers in the intra-tumoral compartment were associated with shorter patient survival (recurrence-free survival: p = 0.001; overall survival: p = 0.01). Multivariate analyses reported that CD68+ macrophage infiltration and tumor stage were strong and independent prognostic factors of HNSCC. CD68+ macrophage numbers increased during HNSCC progression both in intra-epithelial (p < 0.001) and stromal compartments (p < 0.001). A higher density of CD68+ macrophages was observed in advanced stages (p = 0.004). Patients with transcriptionally active HPV infections had higher CD68+ macrophage density than did HPV-negative patients (p = 0.003). CD68+ macrophage infiltration was higher in HPV-E7+ and −E6/E7+ mouse tumors than in -E6+ tumors (p = 0.029 and p < 0.001). In conclusion, the extent of CD68+ macrophage infiltration is a significant prognostic factor for HNSCC patients. The recruitment of macrophages increases during disease progression and is influenced by the HPV virus.

Galectins and Carcinogenesis: Their Role in Head and Neck Carcinomas and Thyroid Carcinomas

Head and neck cancers are among the most frequently occurring cancers worldwide. Of the molecular drivers described for these tumors, galectins play an important role via their interaction with several intracellular pathways. In this review, we will detail and discuss this role with specific reference to galectins-1, -3, and -7 in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and invasion as well as in cell transformation and cancer progression. Furthermore, we will evaluate the prognostic value of galectin expression in head and neck cancers including those with oral cavity, salivary gland, and nasopharyngeal pathologies. In addition, we will discuss the involvement of these galectins in thyroid cancers where their altered expression is proposed as a new diagnostic biomarker.

Meta analysis: HPV and p16 pattern determines survival in patients with HNSCC and identifies potential new biologic subtype

Consistent discrepancies in the p16/HPV-positivity have been observed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It is therefore questionable, if all HPV+ and/or p16+ tested cancers are HPV-driven. Patients down-staged according to the HPV-dependant TNM are at risk for undertreatment and data in clinical trials may be skewed due to false patient inclusion. We performed a meta-analysis to classify clinical outcomes of the distinct subgroups with combined p16 and HPV detection. 25 out of 1677 publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The proportion of the subgroups was 35.6% for HPV+/p16+, 50.4% for HPV-/p16-, 6.7% for HPV-/p16+ and 7.3% for HPV+/P16-. The HPV+/p16+ subgroup had a significantly improved 5-year overall-survival (OS) and disease-free-survival in comparison to others both for HNSCC and oropharyngeal cancers. The 5-year OS of the HPV-/p16+ HNSCC was intermediate while HPV+/p16- and HPV-/p16- had the shortest survival outcomes. The clearly distinct survival of HPV-/p16+ cancers may characterize a new relevant HPV-independent subtype yet to be biologically characterized. The possibility also exists that in some HPV+/p16+ cancers HPV is an innocent bystander and p16 is independently positive. Therefore, in perspective, HPV-testing should distinguish between bystander HPV and truly HPV-driven cancers to avoid potential undertreatment in HPV+ but non-HPV-driven HNSCC.

Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in head and neck cancer and novel therapeutic targets: A systematic review

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in systemic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases, such as obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. For the 2 past decades, MIF has been reported to participate in carcinogenesis, disease prognosis, tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor-induced angiogenesis in many cancers. The purpose of this article is to review published experimental and clinical data for MIF and its involvement in upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Based on the current literature, we propose a biomolecular model describing the mechanisms underlying the involvement of MIF in the initiation, progression, apoptosis, and proliferation of head and neck tumor cells. In reference to this model, potential therapeutic approaches based on the use of MIF antagonists and neutralizing antibodies are described. It is concluded that MIF is a promising target for future therapeutic strategies, both with and without chemoradiation strategies.

Langerhans cell number is a strong and independent prognostic factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

OBJECTIVES

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) exhibit great biological heterogeneity and relatively poor prognosis. Tobacco and alcohol consumption is involved in the cause of the majority of these cancers, but over the last several years, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection has increased specifically in oropharyngeal cancers and become an additional risk factor. Here, we evaluated the number of Langerhans cells (LCs) in HNSCC and reporting its prognostic power in comparison to other risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our clinical series was composed of 25 tumor-free peritumoral epithelium, 64 low-grade dysplasia, 54 high-grade dysplasia and 125 carcinoma samples. HPV was detected by E6/E7 qPCR and p16 immunohistochemistry. CD1a-positive LCs were counted in intra-tumoral and stromal compartments as well as lymph nodes. MIP-3α was assessed in carcinomas using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Univariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that high LC number is associated with longer recurrence-free survival in both intra-tumoral and stromal compartments and longer overall survival in stromal compartment. Tobacco and alcohol habits, but not HPV status, are also correlated with poor prognoses in terms of recurrence. Multivariate analyses reported stromal LC number as a strong prognostic factor independent of tobacco, alcohol and HPV status. Moreover, LC number is higher in tumors and invaded lymph nodes than dysplastic lesions but it decreases in HPV-positive cancer patients. Further, LC number correlates with MIP-3α expression.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that LC number is a significant and independent prognostic factor for HNSCC. LC infiltration is increased in cancer lesions but decrease with HPV infection.