Identification of clinically relevant HPV-related HNSCC: In p16 should we trust?

p16 and p53 can Serve as Prognostic Markers for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to explore the expression and clinical significance of human papilloma virus-related pathogenic factors (p16, cyclin D1, p53) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and construct a predictive model.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to obtain clinical data for 112 patients with HNSCC. Expression of p16, p53, and cyclin D1 was quantified. We used the survival package of the R program to set the cut-off value. Values above the cut-off were considered positive, while values below the cut-off were negative. Kaplan-Meier analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate prognostic clinicopathological indicators and the expression of p16, p53, and cyclin D1. A predictive model was constructed based on the results of multifactor Cox regression analysis, and the accuracy of the predictive model was verified through final calibration analysis. Follow-up of patients with HNSCC at the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University was conducted from 2015 to 2017, and reliability of the predictive model was validated based on follow-up data and molecular expression levels.

RESULTS

According to the results, expression of p16 and p53 was significantly associated with prognosis (P < .05). The predictive model constructed based on the expression levels of p16 and p53 was useful for evaluating the prognosis of patients with HNSCC. The predictive model was validated using follow-up data obtained from the hospital, and the trend of the follow-up results was consistent with the predictive model.

CONCLUSION

p16 and p53 can be used as key indicators to predict the prognosis of HNSCC patients and as critical immunohistochemical indicators in clinical practice. The survival model constructed based on p16 and p53 expression levels reliably predicts patient prognosis.

Single-cell integrated transcriptomics reveals the role of keratinocytes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC and identifying prognostic markers and therapeutic targets are crucial for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data to comprehensively analyze HNSCC at the cellular level. We identified keratinocytes as the predominant cell type in tumor samples, suggesting their potential role in HNSCC development. Through hdWGCNA co-expression network analysis, we identified gene modules associated with HNSCC progression. Furthermore, we constructed a prognostic model based on specific genes and demonstrated its robust predictive performance in multiple datasets. The model exhibited strong correlations with immune cell infiltration patterns and signaling pathways related to tumor progression. Additionally, drug sensitivity analysis revealed potential chemotherapeutic targets for HNSCC treatment. Our findings provide valuable insights into the molecular characteristics and immune microenvironment of HNSCC, offering new perspectives for prognosis prediction and therapeutic interventions in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to validate and expand upon these findings, ultimately improving patient outcomes in HNSCC.

Multiparametric machine learning algorithm for human papillomavirus status and survival prediction in oropharyngeal cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Human papillomavirus (HPV) status influences prognosis in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Identifying high-risk patients are critical to improving treatment. We aim to provide a noninvasive opportunity for managing OPC patients by training multiple machine learning pipelines to determine the best model for characterizing HPV status and survival.

METHODS

Multi-parametric algorithms were designed using a 492 OPC patient database. HPV status incorporated age, sex, smoking/drinking habits, cancer subsite, TNM, and AJCC 7th edition staging. Survival considered HPV model inputs plus HPV status. Patients were split 4:1 training: testing. Algorithm efficacy was assessed through accuracy and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

From 31 HPV status models, ensemble yielded 0.83 AUC and 78.7% accuracy. From 38 survival models, ensemble yielded 0.91 AUC and 87.7% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Results reinforce artificial intelligence's potential to use tumor imaging and patient characterizations for HPV status and outcome prediction. Utilizing these algorithms can optimize clinical guidance and patient care noninvasively.

[New progress in diagnosis and treatment of HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma]

In recent years, the incidence of oropharyngeal carcinoma （OPC） is increasing, while the better prognosis of patients with Human papillomavirus （HPV） positive oropharyngeal carcinoma has been confirmed in a number of studies. There are a variety of detection methods for HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma. Including P16 immunohistochemistry, Polymerase Chain Reaction （PCR） or In situ hybridization （ISH） detection of HPV DNA, HPV RNA, Revers transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction （RT PCR） was used to detect HPV RNA. The better prognosis of patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma has led to the emergence of a large number of degraded treatment trials. The traditional P16 test has certain limitations in the diagnosis of patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma. It is necessary to combine with other detection methods to accurately screen out patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma and better apply to degraded therapy. In this article, we will briefly introduce the trend of HPV-associated oropharyngeal carcinoma, the detection methods and the new progress of degraded treatment trials.

High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA Detection in Mouthwashes for Diagnosis of HPV-Driven Oropharynx Cancer and Its Curative Therapy—A Feasibility Study

Detection of p16 through immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the standard for determining the HPV status of the tumor according the TNM eighth edition released in 2017 and has become crucial for determining the HPV status of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) with direct impact on staging and prognostication. In recent years, detection of HPV DNA in mouthwashes has been proposed as a noninvasive alternative, both for OPSCCs and for other head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). However, the prospect of using the mouthwashes to monitor the response to therapy is unclear. To evaluate the effect of curative therapy on the detection of HPV DNA, we performed a prospective study comparing the detection frequency of high-risk HPV DNA (HR-HPV-DNA) in pre- and post-therapy mouthwashes. We collected 137 mouthwashes from 88 pathologically confirmed HNSCC patients for DNA isolation and HPV genotyping with the Inno-LiPA assay. We show that HPV DNA in pretherapeutic mouthwashes can detect HPV-driven HNSCCs with a sensitivity of 50.0% and specificity of 85.4%, alongside a high negative predictive value of 79.5% and an accuracy of 74.5%. Furthermore, we observed a notable decrease in the detection frequency of HR-HPV-DNA after successful treatment (pre-therapy 50.0% (9/18) versus post-therapy 9.7% (3/28)). However, the comparatively low sensitivity regarding detection of HPV-driven OPSCC argues against its use in clinical routine.

Integrated analysis of lncRNA-associated ceRNA network in p16-positive and p16-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Determination of human papillomavirus (HPV) status has become clinically relevant for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. p16 immunohistochemistry is one of the recommended methods for classifying HPV status. However, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks linked to different p16-status HNSCC are still absent. In the present study, The Cancer Genome Atlas database provided RNA profiles as well as clinical information from 26 p16-positive HNSCC samples, 71 p16-negative HNSCC samples, and 44 adjacent normal control samples. Differentially expressed RNAs (DERNAs) between HNSCC samples and normal samples were identified by limma package in R. Functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs was performed using Clusterprofiler package in R. Survival analysis of DERNAs was carried out by survival package in R. The ceRNA network was constructed using GDCRNATools package in R. A total of 102 lncRNAs, 196 microRNAs (miRNAs), and 2282 mRNAs were identified as p16-positive-specific DERNAs. There were 90 lncRNAs, 153 miRNAs, and 2038 mRNAs were identified as p16-negative-specific DERNAs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs in the p16-positive and the p16-negative group were mainly enriched in the "DNA replication" and "extracellular matrix -receptor interaction" pathway, respectively. Among the top 25 DERNAs, there were 1 key lncRNA, 1 key miRNA, and 1 key messenger RNA in the p16-positive group and 2 key lncRNAs, 1 key miRNA, and 2 key mRNAs in the p16-negative group were significantly related to the overall survival. Then the ceRNA network in the p16-positive and p16-negative group was constructed. There were 5 lncRNAs, 16 miRNAs, and 66 mRNAs included in the p16-positive group ceRNA network and 1 lncRNA, 4 miRNAs, and 28 mRNAs included in the p16-negative group ceRNA network. Among the RNAs in the ceRNA network, 5 mRNAs were significantly related to the overall survival. Taken together, we revealed the differential RNA expression profiling and the differential ceRNA network in the p16-positive and p16-negative group of HNSCC. Our findings provided a novel insight into this HPV-related cancer and potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HNSCC based on p16 status.

A 2.5D convolutional neural network for HPV prediction in advanced oropharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most relevant prognostic factors in advanced oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) treatment. In this study we aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a deep learning-based method for HPV status prediction in computed tomography (CT) images of advanced OPC.

METHOD

An internal dataset and three public collections were employed (internal: n = 151, HNC1: n = 451; HNC2: n = 80; HNC3: n = 110). Internal and HNC1 datasets were used for training, whereas HNC2 and HNC3 collections were used as external test cohorts. All CT scans were resampled to a 2 mm³ resolution and a sub-volume of 72x72x72 pixels was cropped on each scan, centered around the tumor. Then, a 2.5D input of size 72x72x3 pixels was assembled by selecting the 2D slice containing the largest tumor area along the axial, sagittal and coronal planes, respectively. The convolutional neural network employed consisted of the first 5 modules of the Xception model and a small classification network. Ten-fold cross-validation was applied to evaluate training performance. At test time, soft majority voting was used to predict HPV status.

RESULTS

A final training mean [range] area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84 [0.76-0.89], accuracy of 0.76 [0.64-0.83] and F1-score of 0.74 [0.62-0.83] were achieved. AUC/accuracy/F1-score values of 0.83/0.75/0.69 and 0.88/0.79/0.68 were achieved on the HNC2 and HNC3 test sets, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Deep learning was successfully applied and validated in two external cohorts to predict HPV status in CT images of advanced OPC, proving its potential as a support tool in cancer precision medicine.

Low Frequency of Human Papillomavirus in Strictly Site-Coded Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Using the Latest NHI/SEER-ICD Systems: A Pilot Observational Study and Critical Review

Simple Summary

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) has increased in the last decades, and this seems to be correlated to the infectious epidemiological trend of human papillomavirus (HPV). The prevalence of HPV-positive OPSCCs is approximately 70%, with involvement mainly of the tonsillar area. On the role of HPV in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), very few studies have investigated the prevalence of HPV in strictly site-codified OSCC, excluding the base of the tongue as distinct oropharyngeal entity. As a result, an inappropriate estimation of HPV infection in OSCC has been observed. We investigated HPV status, using a combination of detection methods, in a sample of 40 subjects with OSCC coded by the latest site classifications. Moreover, we performed a critical review of the studies with the same outcomes. The main finding of our investigation was a low frequency of HPV-positive OSCC, suggesting no significant HPV role in strictly oral carcinogenesis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate HPV status in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), as coded by the latest classifications and applying a combination of detection methods used in clinical practice. Forty-two patients with suspect OSCC were consecutively recruited. Patients underwent an incisional biopsy for histological OSCC diagnosis and HPV identification by PCR DNA and p16 IHC. All lesions were coded by the latest ICD-0-3.2 site/histology classifications, as proposed for OSCC by the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Programs. Moreover, a comparative analysis review, critically evaluated by the same site-coded systems and HPV detection methods, was performed. In 40 confirmed cases of OSCC, the frequency of HPV infection was 10% (4/40). Among positive patients, two cases were PCR DNA/p16 IHC positive (high-risk HPV 51, high-risk HPV 67), two cases were PCR DNA positive/p16 IHC negative (high-risk HPV 31 + 68, high-risk HPV 66). Applying the latest site coding systems for OSCC, the frequency of HPV infection in this study and in similar, reviewed investigations was low (from 3.3% to 12.5%). These results suggested no significant HPV role in oral carcinogenesis, particularly where an updated site-coded classification of OSCCs (categorically excluding the base of the tongue) had been performed.

Usefulness of high-risk human papillomavirus mRNA silver in situ hybridization diagnostic assay in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas

AIMS

The transcriptional activity of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) within oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) has been linked to improved survival of patients. HR-HPV mRNA silver in situ hybridization (SISH) was evaluated on a cohort of OPSCC and compared with viral HPV DNA tests and p16 expression. Clinical outcomes of HPV-driven OPSCC and non-HPV related OPSCC were also studied.

METHODS

We evaluated 67 OPSCC and 3 papillomas, obtained from 62 patients, for detection of HR-HPV DNA by PCR tests. The positive samples were additionally studied by the SISH method using three probes of HPV16, HPV18, and HP33, and for p16 expression detected by immunohistochemistry. SISH assays were evaluated for the presence/number and intensity of signals in cancer cells. Prognostic significance of HPV status in our cohort was evaluated with univariate and multivariate statistics.

RESULTS

According to the HR-HPV PCR tests, 46 (69%) OPSCC cases were HPV positive, while three papillomas were negative. Of total 46 HPV-positive OPSCCs, 43 cases were also SISH-positive, while p16 overexpression was found in 45 of 46 HPV positive OPSCC cases. In OPSCC specimens, the sensitivity and specificity of the combined SISH probes (HPV16 and 33) were both 100.00%, when compared to HPV PCR. HPV positivity of the tumors appeared significant for predicting progression-free survival, cause specific survival and overall survival in a multivariate setting.

CONCLUSIONS

The recently developed mRNA SISH methodology can detect HPV-driven OPSCCs without any additional test in 79% of cases. Positive SISH signals enable the visualization of viral transcripts required to recognize clinically relevant HPV infection. However, rare and tiny signals require an experienced pathologist to establish a consensus interpretation of results. The currently applied HR-HPV mRNA SISH analysis may serve as a groundwork for additional studies.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: p16/p53 immunohistochemistry as a strong predictor of HPV tumour status

AIMS

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have a better prognosis than those without HPV infection. Although p16^INK4a overexpression is used as a surrogate marker for HPV infection, 5-20% of p16-positive OPSCC are described as being unrelated to HPV infection, with worse overall survival compared to OPSCC-related HPV. There is therefore a risk of undertreating a proportion of OPSCC patients falsely considered to be HPV-driven because of p16 positivity. TP53 mutations are highly prevalent in OPSCC driven by mutagens in tobacco and alcohol. We describe herein a combined p16/p53 algorithm to predict HPV tumour status in OPSCC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 110 OPSCC were identified in the database of the pathology department and were studied using p16 and p53 immunohistochemistry. For p16-positive or p16-negative/wild-type patterns-p53 (WT-p53) cases (n = 63), DNA in-situ hybridisation for high-risk HPV was performed, and if negative the HPV status was controlled by HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (n = 19). A significant association between TP53 mutation and pattern of p53 expression was found (WT-p53, seven of 16, P < 0.001). The p16-positive/WT-p53 was significantly associated with HPV⁺ tumour status (p16-positive/WT-p53, 50 of 110, P < 0.001). Interestingly, a subset of p16-positive OPSCC was unrelated to HPV (13.5%, eight of 59), and showed mutant-type staining of p53 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The p16 protein immunopositivity in conjunction with the mutant-type pattern of p53 staining helped to reclassify a subset of p16-positive OPSCC as OPSCC-unrelated HPV. This approach could be routinely applied by pathologists involved in the management of OPSCC, because of their potential therapeutic implications.

Deep Learning Based HPV Status Prediction for Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients

Simple Summary

Determination of human papillomavirus (HPV) status for oropharyngeal cancer patients depicts a essential diagnostic factor and is important for treatment decisions. Current histological methods are invasive, time consuming and costly. We tested the ability of deep learning models for HPV status testing based on routinely acquired diagnostic CT images. A network trained for sports video clip classification was modified and then fine tuned for HPV status prediction. In this way, very basic information about image structures is induced into the model before training is started, while still allowing for exploitation of full 3D information in the CT images. Usage of this approach helps the network to cope with a small number of training examples and makes it more robust. For comparison, two other models were trained, one not relying on a pre-training task and another one pre-trained on 2D Data. The pre-trained video model preformed best.

Abstract

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as a major risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). HPV-related OPCs have been shown to be more radiosensitive and to have a reduced risk for cancer related death. Hence, the histological determination of HPV status of cancer patients depicts an essential diagnostic factor. We investigated the ability of deep learning models for imaging based HPV status detection. To overcome the problem of small medical datasets, we used a transfer learning approach. A 3D convolutional network pre-trained on sports video clips was fine-tuned, such that full 3D information in the CT images could be exploited. The video pre-trained model was able to differentiate HPV-positive from HPV-negative cases, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.81 for an external test set. In comparison to a 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) trained from scratch and a 2D architecture pre-trained on ImageNet, the video pre-trained model performed best. Deep learning models are capable of CT image-based HPV status determination. Video based pre-training has the ability to improve training for 3D medical data, but further studies are needed for verification.

Feasibility of Immunohistochemical p16 Staining in the Diagnosis of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of IHC- p16INK4a (p16) as an alternative modality for diagnosing HPV infection. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane library for studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of IHC-p16 staining. A total of 30 studies involving 2,963 patients were included from 2007 to 2019. The combined sensitivity was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92–0.95); specificity, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.89–0.91); positive likelihood ratio (LR), 6.80 (95% CI: 5.63–8.21); negative LR, 0.10 (95% CI: 0.07–0.16); diagnostic odds ratio, 85.98 (95% CI: 55.57–133.03); and area under the curve value, 0.9550. Subgroup analysis showed that the IHC-p16 test was more consistent with the in situ hybridization (ISH) test and has greater diagnostic value for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The diagnostic efficacy of IHC-p16 varied among countries. In conclusion, IHC-p16 has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing HPV infection in HNSCC. The consistency of IHC-p16 findings with those of ISH indicate that their combination can be used to improve the specificity of diagnosis.

Multiplex HPV RNA in situ hybridization/p16 immunohistochemistry: a novel approach to detect papillomavirus in HPV-related cancers. A novel multiplex ISH/IHC assay to detect HPV

BACKGROUND

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is notoriously associated with tumor progression in a broad spectrum of malignancies. Detection of HR-HPV is clinically important in the management of HPV-related carcinomas, particularly in cervical cancer and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Several methods for HPV detection are currently available including Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques, DNA in situ hybridization (ISH), RNA ISH, and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Currently, the guidelines for HPV detection in cervical carcinoma are available, while no clear consensus has not yet been reached on the gold standard for HPV testing in OPSCC. Multimodality testing could help to reliably identify patients with transcriptionally active high-risk HPV-positive.

METHODS

We propose a multiplex approach carrying out HPV RNA ISH and p16 IHC on the same slide to detect simultaneously HPV E6/E7 transcripts and p16INK4a overexpression. We tested this assay in two different series one of the cervical cancers with p16-positive, as control, and the other of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas with blind p16 status.

RESULTS

The multiplex HPV RNA ISH /p16 IHC results in the series both of the cervical cancers and the oral-oropharyngeal cancers were fully concordant with the previous results achieved through the classic p16 IHC and HPV RNA scope carried out on two different slides.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggesting several advantages of this technical approach, namely an easy interpretation fully in the light field, the feasibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections, complete automation and a potential wide spreadable for routine testing in several clinical laboratories.

Automated RNA In Situ Hybridization for 18 High Risk Human Papilloma Viruses in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Comparison With p16 Immunohistochemistry

Detection of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is important, as HPV-associated HNSCCs respond better to therapy. The RNAscope HPV-test is a novel RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) technique which strongly stains transcripts of E6 and E7 mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, with the potential to replace the indirect immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for p16 protein. A direct clinical comparison between p16 IHC and an automated RNA ISH using 18 probes has not been established. Samples from 27 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HNSCC cases from the Emory University Hospital archives were stained using 18 individual RNA ISH probes for high-risk HPV (RNAscope 2.5 LS Probe ) on a Leica autostainer (Buffalo Grove, IL) and were compared with p16 IHC. Two pathologists reviewed and reached a consensus on all interpretations. The RNAscope technique was positive in 89% (24/27) and the p16 IHC was positive in 78% (21/27). The RNAscope was negative in 11.1% of samples (3/27) and the p16 IHC-negative in 22.2% (6/27). The RNA ISH detected 100% of the p16-positive IHC-stained slides and had a concordance of 88.9% (24/27). This easy to interpret automated staining method for 18 high-risk HPV genotypes is a feasible replacement for the indirect p16 IHC method.

Oral HPV16 Prevalence in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Oral Cavity Cancers

The role of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral cavity carcinoma (OC) is still under debate. We investigated HPV16 prevalence in unstimulated saliva, oral rinse samples, oral swabs and tumour biopsies collected from OPMD (n = 83) and OC (n = 106) patients. HPV16 genotype, viral load, physical status (episomal vs. integrated) and tumour p16INK4a expression were determined. Oral HPV16 prevalence was higher in OC than in OPMD, but this difference was not statistically significant (7.5% (8/106) versus 3.6% (3/83), odds ratio (OR): 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56, 8.48, p = 0.26). There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between oral HPV16 infection and heavy tobacco consumption. Real-time PCR results indicated that no integration events occurred in either OPMD or OC cases based on the HPV16 E2/E6 ratio. HPV16 positive OPMD and OC patients had similar HPV16 E2 and E6 viral loads. The inter-rater agreement between tumour p16INK4a expression and oral HPV16 infection was considered as fair (k = 0.361) for OC. Our data suggest that the involvement of HPV16 in oral carcinogenesis is limited.

Evaluation of the eighth TNM classification on p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in the Netherlands and the importance of additional HPV DNA testing

Background

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) are traditionally caused by smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. However, in the last decades high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections play an increasingly important role in tumorigenesis. HPV-driven OPSCCs are known to have a more favorable prognosis, which has led to important and marked changes in the recently released TNM-8. In this 8th edition, OPSCCs are divided based on p16 immunostaining, with p16 overexpression as surrogate marker for the presence of HPV. The aims of this study are to evaluate TNM-8 on a Dutch consecutive cohort of patients with p16-positive OPSCC and to determine the relevance of additional HPV DNA testing.

Patients and methods

All OPSCC patients without distant metastases at diagnosis and treated with curative intent at VU University Medical Center (2000-2015) and Erasmus Medical Center (2000-2006) were included (N = 1204). HPV status was determined by p16 immunostaining followed by HPV DNA PCR on the p16-immunopositive cases. We compared TNM-7 and TNM-8 using the Harrell's C index.

Results

In total, 388 of 1204 (32.2%) patients were p16-immunopositive. In these patients, TNM-8 had a markedly better predictive prognostic power than TNM-7 (Harrell's C index 0.63 versus 0.53). Of the 388 p16-positive OPSCCs, 48 tumors (12.4%) were HPV DNA-negative. This subgroup had distinct demographic, clinical and morphologic characteristics and showed a significantly worse five-year overall survival compared with the HPV DNA-positive tumors (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

TNM-8 has a better predictive prognostic power than TNM-7 in patients with p16-positive OPSCC. However, within p16-positive OPSCCs, there is an HPV DNA-negative subgroup with distinct features and a worse overall survival, indicating the importance to perform additional HPV DNA testing when predicting prognosis and particularly for selecting patients for de-intensified treatment regimens.

Standard of care vs reduced-dose chemoradiation after induction chemotherapy in HPV+ oropharyngeal carcinoma patients: The Quarterback trial

BACKGROUND

Human Papillomavirus oropharyngeal carcinoma (HPVOPC) has better progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than non-HPVOPC. Standard-dose chemoradiotherapy (sdCRT) results in significant acute toxicity and late morbidity. We hypothesized that after induction chemotherapy (IC), reduced dose chemoradiation (rdCRT) would result in equivalent PFS and OS compared to sdCRT plus IC in HPVOPC and would reduce toxicity.

METHODS

Patients with p16+, previously untreated, locally advanced HPVOPC and ≤20 pack years smoking history received 3 cycles of IC with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (TPF). Clinical responders who were HPV positive by type-specific PCR were randomized 1:2 to sdCRT (7000 cGy) or rdCRT (5600 cGy) with weekly carboplatin. The endpoints of the study were 3 year PFS and OS.

RESULTS

23 patients were enrolled, 22 were evaluable for TPF toxicity and 20 were randomized, 8 to sdCRT and 12 to rdCRT. Sixteen (80%) were HPV 16+ and 4 (20%) were other high risk (HR) variants. Fourteen (70%) had high risk features: T4, N2c, or N3. Median follow up was 56 months (range 42-70). Three-year PFS/OS for sdCRT and rdCRT are 87.5% vs 83.3% (log-rank test p = 0.85), respectively. All 3 failures are locoregional within 4 months of completion of CRT; 2 were in HR variants (50%).

CONCLUSIONS

rdCRT after IC resulted in similar PFS/OS compared sdCRT. These data support Phase 3 clinical trials of radiation dose reduction after IC as a treatment strategy in HPVOPC. Molecular HPV with variant testing and smoking history are necessary for de-escalation trials.

HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer: current knowledge of molecular biology and mechanisms of carcinogenesis

Understanding of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has significantly progressed over the last decades, and the concept that this disease can be subdivided into two distinct entities based on human papilloma virus (HPV) status has gained acceptance. To combat the constantly growing epidemic of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer, further investigation and characterization the unique features of the disease, along with the development and implementation of new, targeted therapies, is crucial. In this review, we summarize the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and molecular characteristics of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus genome variants and head and neck cancers: a perspective

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause infections that are responsible for diverse clinical manifestations from benign conditions to invasive cancer. As different HPV types are associated with variable pathogenic potential, minor genetic variations within a given high-risk HPV type might also be associated with distinct oncogenic capacities, through variable ability of persistence or risk of progression to precancer/cancer. Most recent HPV variant studies in the cervix using latest sequencing technology confirmed that minor changes in the HPV genome can have a major influence on carcinogenesis and have revealed key data that help better understand the carcinogenicity of HPV at a molecular level. Here we review the limited number of studies on HPV genome variants in head and neck cancers (HNC) and discuss their implications for cancer research in the light of accumulated knowledge for the cervix. Challenges in transposing HPV variant studies from the lower anogenital to the upper aerodigestive tract are also discussed, highlighting the main gaps of knowledge in the field of HPV-induced HNC. Specifically in the head and neck region, the lack of characterisation of precancerous lesions and the difficulty in sampling normal tissue will challenge the development of accurate studies. Although there is so far no indication that HPV variant research in HNC could directly translate into clinical application, such research is expected to be useful to disentangle unanswered questions in the pathogenesis of HNC. Yet, history of HPV variant research suggests that, to be successful, studies will require large international collaborative efforts.

Involvement of calprotectin (S100A8/A9) in molecular pathways associated with HNSCC

Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a heterodimeric protein complex of calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9, plays key roles in cell cycle regulation and inflammation, with potential functions in squamous cell differentiation. While upregulated in many cancers, S100A8/A9 is downregulated in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix, esophagus, and the head and neck (HNSCC). We previously reported that ectopic S100A8/A9 expression inhibits cell cycle progression in carcinoma cells. Here, we show that declining expression of S100A8/A9 in patients with HNSCC is associated with increased DNA methylation, less differentiated tumors, and reduced overall survival. Upon ectopic over-expression of S100A8/A9, the cancer phenotype of S100A8/A9-negative carcinoma cells was suppressed in vitro and tumor growth in vivo was significantly decreased. MMP1, INHBA, FST, LAMC2, CCL3, SULF1, and SLC16A1 were significantly upregulated in HNSCC but were downregulated by S100A8/A9 expression. Our findings strongly suggest that downregulation of S100A8/A9 through epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to increased proliferation, malignant transformation, and disease progression in HNSCC.

Saliva testing for human papilloma virus in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A diagnostic accuracy study

BACKGROUND

New cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are routinely tested for HPV. HPV in saliva can be detected with PCR, but its clinical applicability in the context of OPSCC remains unknown.

METHODS

Forty-six consecutive patients diagnosed with OPSCC had pre-treatment saliva specimens collected. PCR for HPV on saliva was compared to p16 IHC and HPV DNA in situ hybridisation (ISH) on surgical biopsies.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of saliva testing when compared to the reference test of p16 IHC and HPV DNA ISH were 72.2% and 90%, and positive and negative predictive values were 96.3% and 47.4%. There were no adverse events. Time from last meal, smoking, alcohol drinking and physical exercise did not impact on results.

CONCLUSIONS

Saliva testing is a promising test to detect HPV in patients with OPSCC. A positive result could avoid the need for surgical biopsies, thereby reducing costs, patient morbidity and expedite treatment.

Current and future techniques for human papilloma virus (HPV) testing in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Despite a reduction in smoking and alcohol consumption, the incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rising. This is attributed to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and screening for HPV is now recommended in all cases of OPSCC. Despite a variety of clinically available tests and new non-invasive test strategies there is no consensus on which technique is best. This review reports on current techniques for HPV detection in OPSCC and the clinical applicability of emerging techniques. Literature searches of Medline, Embase and clinicaltrials.gov using the search terms 'head and neck neoplasms', 'squamous cell carcinoma' and 'HPV testing' were performed. 45 studies were identified and included. p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC), HPV DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and HPV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are the commonest tests to determine HPV status. p16 IHC and HPV DNA PCR are highly sensitive whilst HPV DNA ISH is more specific, these techniques conventionally utilize surgical biopsies. New tests using PCR to screen fine needle aspirates, saliva, brush cytology and serum for HPV are promising but have variable sensitivity and specificity. These non-invasive samples avoid the morbidity of surgical biopsies and need for tissue blocks; their clinical role in screening and surveillance remains largely untested. Further work is needed to validate these tests and define their role.

Should We De-escalate the Treatment for HPV-Positive Tumors?

De-escalation or de-intensification of therapy is discussed since many retrospective analyses of former trials demonstrated significantly better outcome for patients suffering from p16/HPV16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (OHNSCC). These observations are comprehensively addressed, but the reader has to keep in mind that none of the currently discussed data result from prospective controlled trials addressing the HPV-discrimination in the primary endpoint design. Identification of the true HPV16-related tumors is still challenging and in addition with different clinical reports and lack of data of prospective trials not mature for routine clinical decision making in 2016. Independent of the currently lacking evidence for HPV-dependent treatment de-escalation, there are some relevant arguments to address this question in ongoing and future trials.

Diagnosis of HPV driven oropharyngeal cancers: Comparing p16 based algorithms with the RNAscope HPV-test

BACKGROUND

Accurate identification of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is a major issue and none of the current diagnostic approaches is ideal. An in situ hybridization (ISH) assay that detects high-risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA, called the RNAscope HPV-test, has been recently developed. Studies have suggested that this assay may become a standard to define HPV-status.

METHODS

To further assess this test, we compared its performance against the strategies that are used in routine clinical practice: p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a single test and algorithms combining p16-IHC with HPV-DNA identification by PCR (algorithm-1) or ISH (algorithm-2).

RESULTS

105 OPC specimens were analyzed. The prevalence of HPV-positive samples varied considerably: 67% for p16-IHC, 54% for algorithm-1, 61% for algorithm-2 and 59% for the RNAscope HPV-test. Discrepancies between the RNAscope HPV-test and p16-IHC, algorithm-1 and 2 were noted in respectively 13.3%, 13.1%, and 8.6%. The 4 diagnostic strategies were able to identify 2 groups with different prognosis according to HPV-status, as expected. However, the greater survival differential was observed with the RNAscope HPV-test [HR: 0.19, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.07-0.51, p=0.001] closely followed by algorithm-1 (HR: 0.23, 95% CI, 0.08-0.66, p=0.006) and algorithm-2 (HR: 0.26, 95% CI, 0.1-0.65, p=0.004). In contrast, a weaker association was found when p16-IHC was used as a single test (HR: 0.33, 95% CI, 0.13-0.81, p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the RNAscope HPV-test and p16-based algorithms perform better that p16 alone to identify OPC that are truly driven by HPV-infection. The RNAscope HPV-test has the advantage of being a single test.

Diagnosis of HPV-driven head and neck cancer with a single test in routine clinical practice

Accurate screening of HPV-driven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a critical issue. Although there are commercial direct and indirect assays for HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, none are ideal. Recently, a novel RNA in situ hybridization test (the RNAscope HPV-test) has been developed for the detection of high-risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. However, validation of this assay against the 'gold standard' (identification of high-risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA in fresh-frozen tissue by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR) has only been reported by one team. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from 50 patients with tonsil or tongue base carcinoma were tested using the RNAscope HPV-test, p16 immunohistochemistry, and chromogenic in situ hybridization for high-risk HPV-DNA. The results were compared with those of qRT-PCR on matched fresh-frozen samples. Compared with the reference test, the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the RNAscope HPV-test and of p16 immunohistochemistry were 93%, 94%, 96%, 88% and 96%, 93%, 96%, and 93%, respectively. Five cases were discrepant between the RNAscope HPV-test and p16-immunohistochemisrty. The RNAscope HPV-test demonstrated excellent analytical performance against the 'gold standard' and is easier to interpret than chromogenic in situ hybridization. p16-immunohistochemistry also performed very well, however its main weakness is that it is an indirect marker of the presence of HPV. These data suggest that the RNAscope HPV-test is a promising test that could be developed as a clinical standard for the precise identification of HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatment de-escalation in HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma: ongoing trials, critical issues and perspectives

Due to the generally poor prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), treatment has been intensified, these last decades, leading to an increase of serious side effects. High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection has been recently etiologically linked to a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), which is on the increase. These tumors are different, at the clinical and molecular level, when compared to tumors caused by traditional risk factors. Additionally, their prognosis is much more favorable which has led the medical community to consider new treatment strategies. Indeed, it is possible that less intensive treatment regimens could achieve similar efficacy with less toxicity and improved quality of life. Several clinical trials, investigating different ways to de-escalate treatment, are currently ongoing. In this article, we review these main approaches, discuss the rationale behind them and the issues raised by treatment de-escalation in HPV-positive OPSCC.