Oral squamous cell carcinoma positive for p16/human papilloma virus in post allogeneic stem cell transplantation: 2 cases and review of the literature

Oral Cancer in HSCT Pediatric Patients Arising on GVHD: A Comprehensive Review

After haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and a history of GVHD, the risk of developing secondary malignancies, including oral cancer, is higher. This risk increases with time post-transplantation; therefore, pediatric patients undergoing HSCT, who have long-term survival chances, are in a high-risk category. The aim of this review is to provide data on HSCT, GVHD, clinical manifestations, histological features and treatment of oral cancer, and outcomes in HSCT pediatric patients, affected by oral GVHD, who have been developed OSCC. Descriptive statistics were used to validate data. Fifteen studies on a total of 33 patients were selected. Data on oral cancer showed that the tongue was the most frequently involved site (13 pts; 39.39%), followed by the floor of the mouth (4 pts; 12.12%), and buccal mucosa (4 pts; 12.12%). Oral squamous cell carcinoma was the histological feature reported. There were 19 (57.58%) deaths occurring between 2 and 46.5 months after OC diagnosis. Eleven patients survived with a median follow-up of 34 months. Considering the high risk of developing oral cancer, a conventional oral examination every 6 months is recommended for HSCT pediatric patients who have developed GVHD.

Multifocal oral squamous cell carcinoma post haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is considered a rare complication of post-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early detection of these lesions is further complicated by the overlapping clinical appearance and presentation of lesions associated with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). We report a case of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a 33 year-old man who presented with severe intraoral pain on the lower left side of the cheek and jaw 19 months after undergoing HSCT for the treatment of underlying acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He was previously treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen for HSCT and later developed cGVHD of the liver, eyes, and gut, which resolved with treatment. Intraoral examination revealed two separate lesions. The first lesion presented as a raised oval nodular swelling with a well-circumscribed margin and irregular surface on the left buccal mucosa. A similar, but more extensive, lesion was noted on the left lingual gingiva and was associated with spontaneous bleeding. Biopsy revealed that both lesions were well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and were p16 positive. He underwent palliative radiotherapy but succumbed to his disease 3 months after initiation of treatment.

Two Lip Carcinomas following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

Secondary solid cancers are severe complications in patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for malignant and nonmalignant lymphohematopoietic diseases.

Objective

The aim of this work was to report a case of two lip carcinomas following AHSCT and to warn doctors about the importance of regular check-ups of patients who have received HSCT. Observation. A 57-year-old man was referred by the dermatology department for the management of exophytic budding lesions on the lower lip evolving since 5 months. The patient was in complete remission following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia since five years. Clinical and histological findings confirmed the diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma of the two lesions.

Conclusion

It is of paramount importance to seek an oral squamous cell carcinoma in the presence of persistent lesions in HSCT recipients.

Oral white lesion in patients post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case series demonstrating the diagnostic dilemma

The current National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus paper excluded "white hyperkeratotic plaque" from the diagnostic criteria for oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in order to ensure malignant transformation is not overlooked. Therefore, an isolated oral white plaque is recommended to be subjected to biopsy and pathologic examination. The cases described in this paper shed a new light on the clinical approach to oral white plaque post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The objectives of this article are to demonstrate that a white plaque does not contradict a diagnosis of oral cGVHD, and to highlight the clinical considerations for taking a biopsy.

In situ buccal carcinoma in a teenager after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report

RATIONALE

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the most effective treatment for the majority of patients who have malignant haemolytic disease. Although the success rate of HSCT has increased, the increasing number of cases suffering from secondary solid malignancies after HSCT has attracted more interest recently.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 16-year-old female patient from China presented with a crusty and painful lesion on the left buccal mucosa with a history of chronic graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic HSCT for acute myeloid leukaemia.

DIAGNOSIS

An incisional biopsy of the lesion showed stratified squamous epithelium mucosa with severe dysplasia (carcinoma in situ). Subsequently, a wide local excision was performed and histological examination revealed early infiltrating squamous epithelial mucosa (carcinoma in situ).

INTERVENTIONS

She was being treated in the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic with an incisional biopsy of the left buccal mucosa. She also received a wide local excision.

OUTCOMES

Follow-up for 4 years showed no recurrence.

LESSONS

This case helps raise awareness of the diagnosis of oral symptoms in young patients after HSCT. Due to the increasing application of HSCT, raising awareness in oral and dental physicians may be required to improve long-term clinical outcome of patients who underwent HSCT.

Malignant Transformation of Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2-deficient (Fancd2 -/-) Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells by a Single HPV16 Oncogene

AIM

To demonstrate that Fanconi anemia complementation group D2-deficient (Fancd2^-/-) hematopoietic progenitor cell lines can be transformed by transfection with a plasmid containing either the E6 or E7 oncogene of human papillomavirus (HPV) to generate malignant plasmacytoma-inducing cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to determine whether a single HPV type 16 (HPV16) oncogene induced malignant transformation, Fancd2^-/- and Fancd2^+/+ interleukin 3 (IL3)-dependent hematopoietic progenitor cell lines were transfected with plasmids containing E6 or E7 oncogene, or control empty plasmid.

RESULTS

Fancd2^-/- but not Fancd2^+/+ cells were transformed into malignant IL3-independent cells by both E6, and E7 oncogenes, but not by empty plasmid. Hematopoietic cell lines and tumors induced by Fancd2^-/- E6 and Fancd2^-/- E7 cell lines were positive for each respective HPV RNA and protein.

CONCLUSION

A single HPV16 oncogene is adequate to produce malignant transformation of Fancd2^-/- hematopoietic cells.

HPV-related oral dysplasia in a multiple myeloma patient after stem cell transplantation

The development of dysplastic changes in oral epithelial lesions is a potential long-term complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This may be related to mechanisms including radiation and chemotherapy regimens, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), inflammation, and prolonged immunosuppression. The current case describes a 54-year-old male with multiple myeloma treated by autologous and allogenic HSCT followed by development of cGVHD (mouth, skin and the eyes) with the complaint of diffuse white lesions on the buccal mucosa, tongue, and palate. A biopsy performed with histopathological analysis revealed moderate to severe epithelial dysplasia with hyperkeratosis, positive for p16INK4A as a surrogate marker for human papillomavirus (HPV). Our finding suggests a possible association of oral dysplasia and HPV in patients after receiving allogenic HSCT with the necessity of more clinical follow-ups for those patients that may be at a higher risk for the development of oral dysplasia associated with HPV.

Human Papillomavirus

Individuals with inherited immunodeficiencies, autoimmune disorders, organ or bone marrow transplantation, or infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk of infection with both low-risk and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Chronic immunosuppression provides an environment for persistent HPV infection which carries a higher risk of malignant transformation. Screening guidelines have been developed or advocated for processes that have detectable premalignant lesions, such as anal cancer or cervical cancer. For other anatomic locations, such as cutaneous, penile, and oropharyngeal, a biopsy of suspicious lesions is necessary for diagnosis. HPV cannot be cultured from clinical specimens in the laboratory, and diagnosis relies on cytologic, histologic, or molecular methods.

National Institutes of Health Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Late Effects Initiative: The Immune Dysregulation and Pathobiology Working Group Report

Immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) beyond 1 year is not completely understood. Many transplant recipients who are free of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and not receiving any immunosuppression more than 1 year after transplantation seem to be able to mount appropriate immune responses to common pathogens and respond adequately to immunizations. However, 2 large registry studies over the last 2 decades seem to indicate that infection is a significant cause of late mortality in some patients, even in the absence of concomitant GVHD. Research on this topic is particularly challenging for several reasons. First, there are not enough long-term follow-up clinics able to measure even basic immune parameters late after HCT. Second, the correlation between laboratory measurements of immune function and infections is not well known. Third, accurate documentation of infectious episodes is notoriously difficult. Finally, it is unclear what measures can be implemented to improve the immune response in a clinically relevant way. A combination of long-term multicenter prospective studies that collect detailed infectious data and store samples as well as a national or multinational registry of clinically significant infections (eg, vaccine-preventable severe infections, opportunistic infections) could begin to address our knowledge gaps. Obtaining samples for laboratory evaluation of the immune system should be both calendar and eventdriven. Attention to detail and standardization of practices regarding prophylaxis, diagnosis, and definitions of infections would be of paramount importance to obtain clean reliable data. Laboratory studies should specifically address the neogenesis, maturation, and exhaustion of the adaptive immune system and, in particular, how these are influenced by persistent alloreactivity, inflammation, and viral infection. Ideally, some of these long-term prospective studies would collect information on long-term changes in the gut microbiome and their influence on immunity. Regarding enhancement of immune function, prospective measurement of the response to vaccines late after HCT in a variety of clinical settings should be undertaken to better understand the benefits as well as the limitations of immunizations. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin is still not well defined, and studies to address it should be encouraged.

Evolution of malignant plasmacytoma cell lines from K14E7 Fancd2-/- mouse long-term bone marrow cultures

We tested the effect of expression of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV E7) oncogene on hematopoiesis in long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMCs) derived from K14E7 (FVB) Fancd2-/- (129/Sv), K14E7 Fancd2+/+, Fancd2-/-, and control (FVB X 129/Sv) Fl mice. K14E7 Fancd2-/- and Fancd2-/- LTBMCs showed decreased duration of production of total nonadherent hematopoietic cells and progenitors forming day 7 and day 14 multilineage CFU-GEMM colonies in secondary cultures (7 wks and 8 wks respectively) compared to cultures from K14E7 Fancd2+/+ (17 wks) or control mice (18 wks) p < 0.0001. Marrow stromal cell lines derived from both K14E7 Fancd2-/- and Fancd2-/- cultures were radiosensitive, as were IL-3 dependent hematopoietic progenitor cell lines derived from K14E7 Fancd2-/- cultures. In contrast, Fancd2-/- mouse hematopoietic progenitor cell lines and fresh marrow were radioresistant. K14E7 Fancd2-/- mouse freshly explanted bone marrow expressed no detectable K14 or E7; however, LTBMCs produced K14 positive factor-independent (FI) clonal malignant plasmacytoma forming cell lines in which E7 was detected in the nucleus with p53 and Rb. Transfection of an E6/E7 plasmid into Fancd2-/-, but not control Fancd2+/+ IL-3 dependent hematopoietic progenitor cell lines, increased cloning efficiency, cell growth, and induced malignant cell lines. Therefore, the altered radiobiology of hematopoietic progenitor cells and malignant transformation in vitro by K14E7 expression in cells of the Fancd2-/- genotype suggests a potential role of HPV in hematopoietic malignancies in FA patients.