Faculty Collaboration Database

Human papillomavirus and p53 mutational status as prognostic factors in head and neck carcinoma. Head Neck 2002 Sep;24(9):841-9

Date

09/05/2002

Pubmed ID

12211048

DOI

10.1002/hed.10146

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0036720810 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   106 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mutations of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene are common in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and may portend a worse prognosis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents another potential prognostic factor for SCCHN. The oncogenic potential of HPV may be due to the ability of its E6 oncoprotein to promote degradation of wild-type p53 protein. We wish to determine whether there is a lower incidence of p53 mutations in HPV-positive versus HPV-negative tumors, and if HPV and/or p53 status has an impact on survival.

METHODS: Thirty-two SCCHN specimens were analyzed for mutations of the p53 gene using single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis followed by DNA sequencing. The HPV status of all specimens was evaluated by use of polymerase chain reaction with HPV consensus primers and Southern blot hybridization. Pertinent clinical information was obtained from chart review.

RESULTS: Nonsilent p53 mutations were present in 2 of 15 (13%) of HPV-positive tumors compared with 6 of 17 (35%) of HPV-negative tumors (p =.229; Fisher's exact test, odds ratio.28). A survival advantage was found between HPV-positive compared with HPV-negative specimens (p =.0264) and between p53 wild type compared with p53 mutant specimens (p =.01) by univariate log rank analysis. When stratified according to both HPV and p53 status, a statistically significant survival difference was observed largely because of a 100% survival for the HPV-positive/p53 wild-type group (p =.003).

CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study supports the notion that the presence of HPV confers a survival advantage among HNSCC patients, particularly when p53 is wild type.

Author List

Sisk EA, Soltys SG, Zhu S, Fisher SG, Carey TE, Bradford CR

Author

Elizabeth A. Sisk MD Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Biomarkers, Tumor
Blotting, Southern
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
DNA, Viral
Genes, p53
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Humans
Mutation
Papillomaviridae
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
Probability
Statistics as Topic
Survival Analysis