Human Papillomavirus and Risk of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Iran

• Published in: Microbiology spectrum 2022-08, Vol.10 (4), p.e0011722-e0011722
• Main Authors: Karimi, Abbas, Mohebbi, Elham, Mckay-Chopin, Sandrine, Rashidian, Hamideh, Hadji, Maryam, Peyghambari, Vahideh, Marzban, Maryam, Naghibzadeh-Tahami, Ahmad, Gholipour, Mahin, Kamangar, Farin, Tommasino, Massimo, Gheit, Tarik, Zendehdel, Kazem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alphapapillomavirus; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Research Article; Retrospective Studies; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - complications; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - epidemiology
• ISSN: 2165-0497; 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00117-22

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Knowledge of determinants of α-, β-, and γ-HPVs types in the oral cavity is required for a better understanding of HNSCC development. Oral rinse samples of 498 HNSCC cases and 242 controls from the IROPICAN study-a large multicenter case-control study in Iran-were screened for 21 α-HPV, 46 β-HPVs, and 52 γ-HPVs using bead-based HPV genotyping assays. α-HPVs were detected only in 1.2% of the patients and 2.9% of the controls from which HPV16 was the most prevalent type among participants. β-HPVs were detected in 43.8% of the patients and 38.6% of the controls where the lip and oral cavity (45.5%) had the highest positivity. Values for γ-HPV prevalence in patients and controls were 26.1% and 24.7%, respectively. The highest percentage of γ-HPV positivity was found in the larynx (30.4%). Concerning the β genus, HPV23 and HPV38 were the most prevalent types among the patients and controls, respectively. For the γ genus, SD2 in cases and HPV134 in controls were the most prevalent types. Overall, detection of α-HPVs (aOR, 0.40; 95% CI = 0.1 to 1.2;  = 0.11), β-HPVs (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI = 0.9 to 1.6;  = 0.29), and γ-HPVs infections (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI = 0.7 to 1.5;  = 0.83) was not associated with the HNSCC development. Our data did not suggest an HPV-related etiology for HNSCC pathogenesis. Nonetheless, this study provides novel insights into the diversity of β-, and γ-HPVs in different HNSCC anatomical subsites. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a subset of neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but knowledge of the prevalence of and risk factors for oral HPV infection, especially cutaneous types in Iran, remains unknown. In a large retrospective study, the authors used a sensitive assay for the detection of α-, β-, and γ-HPVs in oral rinse samples of HNSCC and matched controls. They find that the α-HPV contribution to HNSCC in Iran is lower than global prevalence. High-risk α-HPVs or cutaneous β- and γ-HPVs were not associated with the HNSCC development. Besides, this study provides novel insights into the diversity of β- and γ-HPVs in different HNSCC anatomical subsites.