HPV-DNA and -RNA in tonsils, sputum and tonsillar swabs of patients with tonsillar hyperplasia (H), chronic tonsillitis (CT) and tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCC)

Previous retrospective studies describe a correlation between HPV-positivity and negative smoking history in TSCC. The role of p16^INK4A-expression as a surrogate-marker for HPV-positivity is discussed controversial. Here, for the first time, these correlations are assessed in a prospective, consecutive setting. In addition, HPV-status of sputum and tonsillar swabs is analyzed to determine their validity as surrogate-marker for tissue-HPV-status.

52 TSCC-, 56 H- and 107 CT-patients were enrolled. DNA and RNA were isolated from total sputum, cellular fraction and supernatant, from intra-operatively obtained tonsillar swabs and tissue to determine HPV-status. Immunohistochemistry detected p16^INK4A-expression.

CT-tissue 12 (11.2 %) HPV-DNA-positive: 8 HPV11, 1 HPV16; 3 HPV6; 25 % active HPV-infections, characterized by HPV-RNA presence: 1 HPV16; 2 HPV11. H-tissue: 11 (19.6 %) HPV-DNA-positive: 3 HPV11; 4 HPV16 [2 (18.2 %) active], 2 HPV18, 2 HPV6. TSCC-tonsils: 21 (40.4 %) HPV-DNA-positive: 14 HPV16 (13 HPV-RNA-positive); 7 HPV18 (4 HPV-RNA-positive). p16^INK4A-expression alone would have misclassified 14 (26.2 %) patients as HPV-positive or -negative. 23.5 % (n = 8) TSCCs-tissue results were not corroborated by sputum and/or swab results; with similar results found in H and CT. TSCC and CT showed a significant correlation between a negative smoking history and positive HPV-DNA-status.

This prospective study confirms retrospective results regarding the discrepancy between HPV-status and p16^INK4A-expression in TSCC and the significant correlation between not smoking and HPV- positivity. HPV-sputum and/or swab results do not consistently match tissue results; possibly having (detrimental) consequences if these are used to conclude on tissue HPV-status.

Poster-PDF A-1586.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020