Hybrid Capture 2 is as Effective as PCR Testing for High-risk Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Cancers. Issue 4 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hooper, Jody E.; Hebert, Jessica F.; Schilling, Amy; Gross, Neil D.; Schindler, Joshua S.; Lagowski, James P.; Kulesz-Martin, Molly; Corless, Christopher L.; Morgan, Terry K.
• Is Part Of: Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology. Volume 23:Issue 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: HPV -- oropharyngeal -- PCR -- Hybrid Capture 2 -- Cervista -- p16; Diagnostic immunohistochemistry -- Periodicals; Immunohistochemistry -- Periodicals; Cells -- Morphology -- Periodicals; Molecular diagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1097/PDM.0000000000000036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-2016

Abstract

Abstract : High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a common cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, especially in young male nonsmokers. Accurately diagnosing HPV-associated oral cancers is important, because they have a better prognosis and may be treated differently than smoking-related oral carcinomas. Various methods have been validated to test for high-risk HPV in cervical tissue samples, and they are in routine clinical use to detect dysplasia before it progresses to invasive disease. Similarly, future screening for HPV-mediated oropharyngeal dysplasia may identify patients before it progresses. Our objective was to compare 4 of these methods in a retrospective series of 87 oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas that had archived fresh-frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue for evaluation. Patient age, sex, smoking history, and tumor location were also recorded. DNA prepared from fresh-frozen tissue was tested for HPV genotypes by multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis, and high-risk HPV screening was carried out using Hybrid Capture 2 and Cervista. Histologic sections were immunostained for p16. HPV-positive outcome was defined as agreement between at least 2 of the 3 genetic tests and used for χ 2 analysis and calculations of diagnostic predictive value. As expected, high-risk HPV-positive oral cancers were most common in the tonsil and base of the tongue (oropharynx) of younger male (55 vs. 65 y) ( P =0.0002) nonsmokers ( P =0.01). Most positive cases were HPV16 (33/36, 92%). Hybrid Capture 2 and Cervista were as sensitive as polymerase chain reaction and had fewer false positives than p16 immunohistochemical staining.