We retrospectively studied biopsy specimens obtained from 16 patients who had carcinoma of the tonsil or nasopharynx. Polymerase chain reaction testing detected the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in 13 samples (81.3%)—six tonsillar and seven nasopharyngeal. Eleven of the 13 positive samples (84.6%) contained HPV subtype 31. We believe that this is the first report of the presence of HPV subtype 31 in these carcinomas. In addition to the significant association between tonsillar and nasopharyngeal cancer and HPV, our analysis of descriptive variables confirmed the association between the incidence of these neoplasms and poor oral hygiene and low socioeconomic status in older adults.
References
1.
zur HausenH.Viruses in human cancers. Science1991; 254: 1167–73.
2.
LancasterW.D., JensonA.B.Human papillomavirus infection and neoplasia. Speculations for the future. Dermatol Clin1991; 9: 371–6.
3.
ThawleyS.E., O'LearyM.Malignant neoplasms of the oropharynx. In: CummingsC.W., ed. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.St. Louis: Mosby. 1992: 1310–1.
4.
ThamK.M., ChowV.T., SinghP.Diagnostic sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization for the detection of human papillomavirus DNA in biopsy specimens from cervical lesions. Am J Clin Pathol1991; 95: 638–46.
5.
GustincichS., ManfiolettiG., Del SalG.A fast method for high-quality genomic DNA extraction from whole human blood. Biotechniques1991; 11: 298–300, 302.
6.
WatanabeS., OguraH., FukushimaK., YabeY.Comparison of Virapap filter hybridization with polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization methods for detection of human papillomavirus in tonsillar and pharyngeal cancers. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol1993; 250: 115–9.
7.
ColeS.T., StreeckR.E.Genome organization and nucleotide sequence of human papillomavirus type 33, which is associated with cervical cancer. J Virol1986; 58: 991–5.
8.
LancasterW.D., JensonA.B.Human papillomavirus infection and anogenital neoplasia: Speculations for the future. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am1987; 14: 601–9.
9.
PaoC.C., LinS.S., LinC.Y.Identification of human papillomavirus DNA sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Am J Clin Pathol1991; 95: 540–6.
10.
MelchersW.J., ClaasH.C., QuintW.G.Use of the polymerase chain reaction to study the relationship between human papillomavirus infections and cervical cancer. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis1991; 10: 714–27.
11.
VandenveldeC., ScheenR., Van PachterbekeC.Prevalence of high risk genital papillomaviruses in the Belgian female population determined by fast multiplex polymerase chain reaction. J Med Virol1992; 36: 279–82.
12.
BrandsmaJ.L., AbramsonA.L.Association of papillomavirus with cancers of the head and neck. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1989; 115: 621–5.
13.
KashimaH.K., KutcherM., KessisT.Human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma, leukoplakia, lichen planus, and clinically normal epithelium of the oral cavity. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990; 99: 55–61.
14.
NiedobitekG., PitteroffS., HerbstH.Detection of human papillomavirus type 16 DNA in carcinomas of the palatine tonsils. J Clin Pathol1990; 43: 918–21.
15.
SnijdersP.J., CrommeF.V., van den BruleA.J.Prevalence and expression of human papillomavirus in tonsillar carcinomas, indicating a possible viral etiology. Int J Cancer1992; 51: 845–50.
16.
VousdenK.Interactions of human papillomavirus transforming proteins with the products of tumor suppressor genes. FASEB J1993; 7: 872–9.
17.
ColeS.T., DanosO.Nucleotide sequence and comparative analysis of the human papillomavirus type 18 genome. Phylogeny of papillomaviruses and repeated structure of the E6 and E7 gene products. J Mol Biol1987; 193: 599–608.
