Detection of HPV16 African variants and quantitative analysis of viral DNA methylation in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas

• Published in: Journal of clinical virology 2014-07, Vol.60 (3), p.243-249
• Main Authors: Barbieri, Daniela, Nebiaj, Aurel, Strammiello, Rosaria, Agosti, Roberto, Sciascia, Silvia, Gallinella, Giorgio, Landini, Maria Paola, Caliceti, Umberto, Venturoli, Simona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergy and Immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Methylation; DNA, Viral; Female; Genetic Variation; Genotype; HPV genotyping; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus 16 - genetics; Humans; Infectious Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular markers; Neoplasm Staging; Oropharyngeal cancer; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms - virology; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Prevalence; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Pyrosequencing; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis
• ISSN: 1386-6532; 1873-5967
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2014.04.014

Abstract Background HPV16 is the most prevalent genotype in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs), but there are few information about intratype variants prevalence and their clinical relevance in these tumors. Moreover, since HPV DNA detection alone is not sufficient to determine a favorable prognosis for OPSCCs, additional diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers are necessary. Objectives To assess the prevalence of HPV intratype variants and evaluate the role of HPV16 DNA methylation as prognostic marker in OPSCCs. Study design We analyzed 81 biopsies of OPSCCs for HPV detection and genotyping with a pyrosequencing-based HPV DNA-test. We also quantified viral DNA methylation frequency in the LCR by pyrosequencing in patients with transcriptionally-active HPV16-infection, analyzing it in function of available clinical/virological data. Results The overall HPV prevalence was 74.1% and HPV16 was confirmed the most prevalent genotype (51/60, 85.0%). Interestingly, we detected, for the first time, HPV16 African variants in 10/51 cases (19.6%), pointing out their clinical relevance also out of the anogenital district. Regarding viral DNA methylation, the E2BS1 showed a significantly higher mean methylation frequency compared to E2BS3/4, as previously observed in high-grade precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix. On the other hand, patient with a mean methylation frequency in the early promoter >10% showed only a tendency to have a worse prognosis. Conclusions Our results highlight both the involvement of HPV16 African variants in OPSCCs development and the necessity of further studies to deepen the role of viral methylation in these tumors, in order to better define similarities/differences compared to cervical cancer.