Abstract
The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors and prognostic factors and to test whether the HPV presence is an independent factor of survival. 86 patients with oral/oropharyngeal cancer and 75 controls were enrolled. HPV DNA detection and typing was performed by PCR and reverse line blot hybridization.
Risk factors and clinical data were analyzed together with the presence of HR HPV in the tissue. The exposure to tobacco and alcohol were the most significant risk factors.
HPV DNA was detected in 61.6 pc of tumour tissue samples. The prevalence of HPV DNA was lower in oral than in oropharyngeal tumours, and higher in never smokers and never drinkers.
HPV DNA presence was not related to gender, age, number of lifetime sexual partners or practice of oral-genital sex, size of tumour or presence of regional metastases. HPV positive patients had significantly better overall and disease specific survival rates than HPV negative patients.
Analyses showed that prognostic factors were presence of HPV in the tumour, extra capsular spread and tumour size. The most important risk factors are tobacco and alcohol consumption.
A distinct subgroup of tumours has etiological relation to HPV. HPV was the most significant prognostic factor and possibly should be considered in treatment decisions.