Sensitivity of tumor surface brushings to detect human papilloma virus DNA in head and neck cancer

Publication date: April 2017
Source:Oral Oncology, Volume 67
Author(s): Barbara Kofler, Wegene Borena, Claudia Manzl, Jozsef Dudas, Anne-Sophie Wegscheider, Pidder Jansen-Dürr, Volker Schartinger, Herbert Riechelmann
ObjectiveHuman papilloma virus (HPV) induced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a distinct tumor subset. We questioned how accurately a brushing from the tumor surface detects HPV in patients with HNSCC.Materials and methodsBrushings from the tumor surface were compared with HPV DNA isolation from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor biopsies, which served as the reference standard. In both matrices, HPV DNA was detected using a commercially available test kit. In addition, p16 was assessed in tumor biopsies by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The tumors were considered p16 positive if 70% or more of cancer cells expressed p16.Results93 patients with HNSCC were included. Sensitivity and specificity of the brush test were 83% (95%CI: 67–92%) and 85% (95%CI: 72–93%). Results of p16 IHC were concordant with FFPE samples DNA determinations in 73/93 patients. In 53 patients (57%) the tumor was located in the oropharynx and in 40 patients (43%) the tumor was located in the non-oropharynx region. Sensitivity and specificity of the brush test in patients with oropharyngeal cancer was higher with 86% (95%CI: 70–95%) and 89% (95%CI: 65–99%).ConclusionSuperficial brushes from the tumor surface may be used to identify HPV positive HNSCC.



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