Assessment of human papilloma virus immunoreactivity in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

Abstract

Objective: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections have been suggested to be associated with the squamous epithelial lesions. Certain HPV types have been detected in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The goal of this study is to assess pan HPV expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and adjacent mucosal epithelium and to correlate its expression with tumor grade, nodal status, and tumor stage.

Methods: The present study includes 39 cases of laryngeal SCC treated by radical laryngectomy. The tumor tissues were originally formaline-fixed and paraffin-embedded. The sections representing both tumor and the adjacent mucosa were analyzed for pan HPV expression by immunohistochemical method.

Results: Pan-HPV staining was positive in 14 cases (35%) either at the tumor cells or at the adjacent mucosa. Among these, positive staining only at the tumor cells was observed in 1 case (7%), and 2 cases (15%) were positive both at the tumor cells and at the adjacent mucosa. The remaining 11 cases (78%) showed positivity only at the adjacent mucosa, Regarding the tumor stage, the adjacent mucosa showed positivity in 8 cases (53 %) among 15 T3 and T4 tumors while only 2 cases (13%) were positive at tumor cells. A proportional distribution was seen among the groups regarding tumor grade and nodal status.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that although not providing direct evidence, adjacent mucosa should also be investigated for achieving higher detection rate in laryngeal SCC. The detection

of HPV at tumor cells by this method is of limited value. The advanced stage was not correlated statistically with HPV expression, although a higher rate of HPV positivity in T3-T4 tumors was found. This study also did not indicate any correlation with tumor grade and nodal status. However for a definite conclusion, wider series should be studied.

Keywords

• Laryngeal cancer,human papilloma virus,immunohistochemistry

References

1. Lieberman MW, Lebovitz KM. neoplasia (viral carcinogens). In: Damyanow I, Linder J, eds. Anderson's pathology. I Oth Ed. new York: Mosby Year Book, Inc., 1996:537-538.