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Head Neck. 2006 Jul 5; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

Role of human papillomavirus in the etiology of head and neck cancer.

Tran N, Rose BR, O'brien CJ.
Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and the University of Sydney, P. O. Box M 142, Missenden Road, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia.

Head and neck cancer is the world's sixth most common cancer, but despite advances in treatment, there has been no significant decline in the mortality rate. In recent years, there has been mounting epidemiologic and experimental evidence of a role for human papillomavirus (HPV) as the etiologic agent of a subset of head and neck cancers. The association is strongest for oropharyngeal cancers, especially those of the tonsil. HPV 16 is invariably the predominant type.

HPV-positive cancers have been shown to be biologically distinct, clustering among nonsmokers and light drinkers, and have been associated with a favorable prognosis. This review examines the current findings of HPV in head and neck cancers and discusses implications for developing new treatments. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006.

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Wart Virus Linked to Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

CHICAGO, IL -- August 22, 2006 -- Human papilloma virus (HPV), the condition which has been suggested as a causative agent in cervical cancer, has also been linked to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), according to a paper presented here at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS).

"The prevalence of HPV is rising worldwide," noted study presenter Jose-Francisco Gallegos-Hernandez, MD, surgeon, head and neck department, Oncology Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico.

The poster presented on August 19th reported the results of a study of 118 head and neck cancer patients which found unusually high prevalence of two types of HPV, in particular, HPV type 16 and type 18.

HPV type 18 is associated with the development of leucoplasia as a preneoplastic lesion, while type 16 has been associated with a better prognosis in head and neck cancer patients.

The researchers identified some strain HPV in 42% of the cases. Of those, HPV type 16 was present 70% of the time.

"Some authors say that patients with HPV have a better prognosis, maybe because alcohol and tobacco use are not present in as many patients with HPV," said Gallegos-Hernandez. While the study looked for a link between alcohol and tobacco use (two other oft-cited factors in head and neck cancer) and sexual practices and HPV, none was found, he said.

Fifty percent of patients with laryngeal cancer had HPV, he said. HPV type 16 was present in 20% of those with mouth cancer, 25% of those with cancer of the mucosae, and 66% of those with cancer of the palate, while no other forms of HPV were found in patients with those forms of cancer in the study, the poster said. HPV was found more frequently in patients over 50 years of age and in men.

"Perhaps a vaccine could play a future [preventive] role in high-risk patients," Dr. Gallegos-Hernandez said, noting that the new vaccine for cervical cancer might also have utility as a prophylactic measure against head and neck cancer.


[Presentation title: Frequency and Types of Human Papilloma Virus in Head and neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma". Poster 160]

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Prevalence of human papillomavirus antibodies in young female subjects in England

Sera from 1483 female subjects in England aged 10-29 years were tested. The age-standardised seroprevalence was:

• 10.7% (95% confidence intervals 9.0-12.3) for human papillomavirus (HPV) 6,
• 2.7% (1.8-3.6) for HPV 11,
• 11.9% (10.2-13.6) for HPV 16,
• 4.7% (3.5-5.8) for HPV 18, and
• 20.7% (18.6-22.7) for any of the four types (that is, had more than one type)

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Human Papilloma Virus Vaccines May Decrease Chances of Oral Cancer

CHICAGO 4th Oct 2007 -- The Centers for Disease Control report that nearly 25 million women are infected with some form of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Of those, more than three million are thought to have one of the four strains known to cause cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.

HPV is linked to oropharyngeal cancer and may be linked to oral cancers as well, and vaccines that have been developed to treat HPV might decrease the risk of these cancers, according to a study in the May/June issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

James J. Closmann, BS, DDS, the lead author of the study, found that oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC) have been linked to high-risk HPV strains, the same strains that cause cervical cancer.

Recently, a vaccine was developed to treat patients with HPV against cervical cancer, and this could have an effect on women's oral health.

"More than 100 strains of HPV have been identified," says Dr. Closmann. "They have been shown to cause other benign and malignant disorders, which now include those in the mouth. Nearly 30,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer are reported each year. It's possible that oral and oropharyngeal cancers could be reduced if vaccination were more widespread; however, additional research is needed."

Additional research could result in a comprehensive test for dentists at patients' semiannual visits. However, a dentist can perform a head and neck exam to detect early signs, despite the lack of a specific test.

A possible connection between HPV and oral cancers, and the stronger link to oropharyngeal cancers, is even more of an indicator that patients should visit the dentist twice a year to identify irregularities early.

"Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is an important factor in the detection of any oral health complication," says Laura Murcko, DMD, spokesperson for the AGD. "Taking preventive measures is especially important, and your dentist can check for early signs of oral cancer."

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Infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) appears to contribute to the development of oropharyngeal cancer, and HPV vaccination of both boys and girls may reduce the occurrence of this disease. This was the conclusion of a review published in the journal Cancer.

Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. The oropharynx is the part of the throat that includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils. Exposures that are known to increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer include tobacco and alcohol use. Research has also suggested that infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) may also play a role.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) consist of more than 100 different viruses. Some types of HPV cause warts on the hands or feet; others cause genital warts; and some have been linked with cancer, most notably cervical cancer. The types of HPV that account for a majority of cases of cervical cancer are HPV 16 and HPV 18.

Vaccines that prevent infection with high-risk types of HPV have the potential to greatly reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer as well as other HPV-related cancers. The HPV vaccine that is currently on the market is Gardasil®, which targets HPV types 6 and 11 (which are linked with genital warts) as well as the cancer-associated types 16 and 18. The vaccine is approved for use in girls and women between the ages of nine and 26 years.

To build the case for vaccinating both girls and boys against HPV, researchers explored trends in head and neck cancer incidence. The trends suggest that overall, the incidence of head and neck cancer has declined as smoking rates have declined. Incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in particular, however, has not declined and appears to be increasing in young adults. This lack of a decline in oropharyngeal cancer may reflect the role of HPV in this disease.

To achieve the maximum possible reduction in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, it will likely be important to vaccinate both girls and boys against HPV. The vaccine has not yet been approved for use in boys, but studies in boys are underway. The researchers conclude: “We encourage the rapid study of the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in males and, if successful, the recommendation of vaccination in young adult and adolescent males.”

Reference: Sturgis EM, Cinciripini PM. Trends in head and neck cancer incidence in relation to smoking prevalence: an emerging epidemic of human papillomavirus-associated cancers? Cancer. 2007;110:1429-35.

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A stressful life may make it tougher to fight the virus which causes the majority of cervical cancer cases, say scientists.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection - but only a small percentage of women who catch it develop cancer.

US researchers, writing in the journal Annals of Behavioural Medicine, said that stressed women had a weaker immune response to the virus.

But the study did not prove that stress was the root cause of the problem.

..more