Evaluation of the Xpert® HPV assay in the detection of Human Papillomavirus in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded oropharyngeal carcinomas

Over the last few decades, it has become clear that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) does not only cause ano-genital cancers, but also represents the etiological agent of a subset of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) [1]. The majority of the HPV-driven HNSCC are oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) which arise at the tonsils or base of the tongue. Recently, a significant increase in the incidence of HPV-related OPSCC was observed in the US [2] and several European countries [3,4].

http://ift.tt/2vJTQwg