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A clinical analysis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-institution’s experience

  • Head and Neck
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

We herein report the treatment outcome of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) at Kyushu University Hospital, the total number of OPSCC cases, and changes in the proportion of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related carcinomas over time.

Method

We performed a retrospective analysis of 237 cases treated for OPSCC at Kyushu University Hospital between 2013 and 2019. We performed HPV-mRNA in situ hybridization and p16 immunohistochemistry.

Result

This study included 197 males (82.1%) and 40 females (17.9%). The disease-specific, progression-free and overall survival (OS) were 69%, 62% and 61%, respectively, over the decade-long study period. p16-Immunohistochemistory and highrisk HPV mRNA in situ hybridization were positive in 114 (48.1%) and 105 (44.3%) cases, respectively. The number of HPV-related OPSCC cases increased according to an annual analysis. HPV+ cases had a significantly better prognosis than HPV− cases. In addition, p16+/HPV− cases had a significantly worse prognosis than p16+/HPV+ cases (OS: p = 0.0484). HPV+ OPSCC cases were associated with a younger age (< 60 years old) (p = 0.0429), non-smoker (p = 0.0001), lateral tumor site (< 0.00001), lymphoid metastasis (< 0.0001) and low clinical stage (< 0.0001).

Conclusion

The frequency of HPV-related OPSCC cases is increasing in Japan as well as worldwide, and such cases are characterized by no smoking habit, a young age, and a good prognosis. Even in p16+ OPSCC, HPV− cases had a poor prognosis, suggesting the importance of accurate HPV determination. To determine the intensity of treatment for HPV-related and non-related OPSCC, it is necessary to accumulate cases for the accurate HPV determination and comparison of treatment effects.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the technical staff of the Department of Pathology (Kyushu University Hospital) for their assistance. Part of this study was presented at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the ORL Society of Japan on May 12–15, 2021. The English used in this manuscript was revised by Japan Medical Communication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan

    Rina Jiromaru, Ryuji Yasumatsu, Ryosuke Kuga, Takahiro Hongo, Tomomi Manako, Kazuki Hashimoto, Takahiro Wakasaki, Mioko Matsuo & Takashi Nakagawa

  2. Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hidetaka Yamamoto, Ryosuke Kuga & Takahiro Hongo

  3. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takafumi Nakano

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  1. Rina Jiromaru
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  2. Ryuji Yasumatsu
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Correspondence to Ryuji Yasumatsu.

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Supplementary Information

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405_2021_7236_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Supplementary file1 The Kaplan-Meier analysis for the progression-free survival (PFS) in p16-immunohistochemistry and HPV in situ hybridization. A HPV infection is significantly correlated with a better prognosis (PFS: p < 0.0001). B p16+/HPV+ OPSCC cases show significantly better prognoses than the p16−/HPV− OPSCC cases (PFS: p < 0.0001) and p16+/HPV− OPSCC cases (p = 0.0313) (TIF 1961 KB)

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Jiromaru, R., Yasumatsu, R., Yamamoto, H. et al. A clinical analysis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-institution’s experience. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 3717–3725 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07236-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07236-z

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