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Human papillomavirus prevalence and clinicopathological associations in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the Lebanese population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2018

R Mhawej ,
C Ghorra ,
S Naderi ,
N Khoueir ,
W Abou Hamad  and
A E Melkane
R Mhawej*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
C Ghorra
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
S Naderi
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
N Khoueir
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
W Abou Hamad
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
A E Melkane
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Rachad Mhawej, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, 166830 Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon E-mail: rachad.mhawej@net.usj.edu.lb
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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate for the first time the prevalence of human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a Middle-Eastern population, and to determine associations between human papillomavirus profiles and clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients treated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma at the Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital (Beirut, Lebanon) between January 2010 and 2016. Existing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour samples were analysed. Human papillomavirus DNA viral load and p16 expression were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively.

Results

Thirty patients (mean age of 60 years) were included. Twenty-seven per cent of patients were p16-positive/human papillomavirus DNA positive, 53 per cent were p16-negative/human papillomavirus DNA negative and 20 per cent were p16-positive/human papillomavirus DNA negative. Human papillomavirus 16 was the most frequent subtype (75 per cent). Smoking and alcohol consumption were significantly lower in the human papillomavirus positive group compared to the human papillomavirus negative group (p = 0.049 and 0.004, respectively).

Conclusion

Human papillomavirus rate was lower than reported rates in Western populations. Possible explanations include differences in social and cultural behaviours.

Keywords

Human Papilloma VirusOropharynxSquamous Cell CarcinomaHead and Neck CancerPrevalenceMiddle-East

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 7 , July 2018 , pp. 636 - 641
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2018 

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Footnotes

Dr R Mhawej takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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