In:
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vol. 146, No. 8 ( 2022-08-01), p. 1018-1023
Abstract:
Limited data exist on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective.— To determine the prevalence of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma at a large tertiary care center in South Africa. Design.— A total of 266 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas diagnosed during an 11-year period (2007–2017) were selected for evaluation. Cases staining positive for p16 immunohistochemistry were evaluated for high-risk HPV using the BD Onclarity assay (BD Diagnostics, Sparks, Maryland). Results.— Of 266 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, 14% (n = 36) were positive for p16. Polymerase chain reaction for high-risk HPV performed on the p16-positive cases was negative in 23 cases and positive in 13 cases (13 of 266; 5%). p16 showed a positive predictive value of 36.1%. The HPV subtypes were HPV-16 (n = 10), HPV-18 (n = 1), HPV-52 (n = 1), and HPV-31 (n = 1). Human papillomavirus–positive cases occurred in 10 men and 3 women (mean age, 51 years) and arose from the tonsil (n = 10) or base of the tongue (n = 3). The HPV-positive cases were non-keratinizing (n = 10) or partially keratinizing (n = 1). Partially/nonkeratinizing cases revealed a modest improvement in p16 positive predictive value (11 of 21; 52.4%). Conclusions.— The presence of high-risk HPV in 5% of cases suggests that high-risk HPV is a minor etiologic agent in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in this region. Given its suboptimal positive predictive value, p16 is not a reliable marker for high-risk HPV infection in this region. When p16 is positive, HPV-specific testing is necessary. The identification of less common high-risk HPV types, HPV-52 and HPV-31, may influence current local vaccination strategies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1543-2165
,
0003-9985
DOI:
10.5858/arpa.2021-0021-OA
Language:
English
Publisher:
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2028916-9
