Does Human Papillomavirus Cause Esophageal Adenocarcinoma?

The prevalence of viral agents in esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's esophagus: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Human papilloma virus (HPV), which may reach the esophagus through orogenital transmission, has been postulated to be associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). A systematic review of the literature investigating the prevalence of infectious agents in EAC and Barrett's esophagus (BE) was carried out.

METHODS

Using terms for viruses and EAC, the Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies published, in any language, until June 2016 that assessed the prevalence of viral agents in EAC or BE. Random-effects meta-analyses of proportions were carried out to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of infections in EAC and BE.

RESULTS

A total of 30 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of HPV in EAC tumor samples was 13% (n=19 studies, 95% CI: 2-29%) and 26% (n=6 studies, 95% CI: 3-59%) in BE samples. HPV prevalence was higher in EAC tissue than in esophageal tissue from healthy controls (n=5 studies, pooled odds ratio=3.31, 95% CI: 1.15-9.50). The prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in EAC was 6% (n=5, 95% CI: 0-27%). Few studies have assessed other infectious agents. For each of the analyses, considerable between-study variation was observed (I=84-96%); however, sensitivity analyses did not show any major sources of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of HPV and EBV in EAC is low compared with other viral-associated cancers, but may have been hampered by small sample sizes and detection methods susceptible to fixation processes. Additional research with adequate sample sizes and high-quality detection methods is required.

Human papillomavirus not detected in esophageal adenocarcinoma tumor specimens

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated as playing a causal role in Barrett's esophagus, the metaplastic precursor to esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) and gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinomas (GEJACs). We evaluated the presence of HPV DNA in EACs and GEJACs.

STUDY DESIGN

We analyzed 241 histologically confirmed archived EAC and GEJAC tissue specimens from a population-based study in Australia. Samples were tested by PCR for DNA quality (β-globin) and for the presence of HPV DNA.

RESULTS

DNA yield and quality was satisfactory in 97% (233/241; 201 EAC, 32 GEJAC). Each sample was tested three times for HPV DNA, but none of the 233 tumor specimens tested positive.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence of HPV DNA in esophageal adenocarcinoma tumor cells. HPV is unlikely to cause EAC or GEJAC.