Prevalence of Polyoma BK Virus (BKPyV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Oropharyngeal Cancer.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of BK virus, Human Papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus in oropharyngeal cancer, and to test our hypothesis that BKV/HPV/EBV co-infection plays a role in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The correlation between viral infection, OSCC, anatomic location, pre-treatment staging, evidence of metastases to lymph nodes, and grading was also investigated. The examination samples were collected from 62 patients from paraffin tissue blocks. Males (90.3%) with, smoking (83.9%) and alcohol abuse (67.7%) problems prevailed in the studied group. G2 histological type was recognized in 80.6% cases. T4 (77.4%) and N2 (56.5%) traits occurred in the majority of patients. No cases of metastasis were observed (M0 100%). HPV - 24.2%, EBV - 27.4% and BKV 17.7% were detected in the studied samples. We observed co-infection EBV/BKV in 8% of cases, HPV/BKV in 4.8%, and HPV/EBV in 9% cases. Only in two cases co-infection of all three viruses was found.

Prevalence of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in south-eastern Poland.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of HPV and EBV in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in south-eastern Poland. The correlation between viral infection, OSCC, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, demographic data (gender, age, place of residence), anatomic location, pre-treatment staging, evidence of metastases to lymph nodes, and grading was also investigated. METHODS: The examination samples were collected from paraffin tissue blocks, from 154 patients. Viral DNA was amplified by the nested-PCR method. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in 29.2 % of the tested samples (in 27.4 % of oropharyngeal and in 30.4 % of oral cavity). The HPV type 16 was detected in 15.6 % of all samples, and in 53.3 % of HPV-positive group. In HPV-positive samples from oropharyngeal HPV 16 constitute 76.5 %, and in HPV-positive samples from oral cavity HPV 16 constitute 39.3 %. Mixed infection (more than one type of HPV) was observed in 23.5 and 60.7 %, respectively, and in 46.7 % of all HPV-positive samples, and in 12.3 % of the whole study group. EBV DNA was detected in 27.3 % of the cases and HPV-EBV co-infection in 7.8 % of samples. CONCLUSIONS: In major patients from Southeastern region of Poland with oropharyngeal cancer HPV type 16 was detected but in oral cavity cancer other mixed infections were observed (i.e. 51, 52, 59, 66, 68, 71, 74). HPV 16 was detected more often among patients younger than 50 years of age, whereas the mixed HPV in the group aged 50-59. The pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma may be connected with EBV infection. Future studies on the mechanisms of HPV/EBV co-infection and/or superinfection and their role in oral squamous cell carcinoma are necessary.

EBV, HSV, CMV and HPV in laryngeal and oropharyngeal carcinoma in Polish patients.

The role of viruses in the etiology of oral cancer has been proposed in many studies. The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus, Human Herpes virus type 1, Cytomegalovirus and Human Papilloma virus among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma in a Polish population. We investigated fresh-frozen tumor tissue fragments obtained from 80 patients with OSCC using the polymerase chain reaction assay. HPV was detected in 32.5% (22.5% were HPV 16), more often in laryngeal (36%) than in oropharyngeal carcinoma (26.6%). EBV was identified in 57.5%, HHV-1 in 7.5%, and CMV in 10% of patients. Co-infection with one or more viruses was detected in 30% of cases and most frequently it was co-infection with EBV and HPV (15%). Further studies are necessary to determine the potential role of EBV and the possible importance of HHV-1 as an infection co-factor in oropharyngeal cancer.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - structure, epidemiology and pathogenesis.

The number of cancers is constantly increasing. An important role in the etiology of many of them is played by the viral factor, by oncogenic viruses, such as the Human Papillomavirus. The article shows current epidemiological situation and describes the structure of the virus and modes of transmission. It also explains the role of HPV infection in cancer with particular emphasis on oropharynx and head and neck cancer. Summarizing, HPV infection plays an important role in carcinogenesis of the oropharynx tumors. The presence of viral genetic material in the tumor may influence prognosis and treatment method choices.