HPV DNA and p53 alterations in oropharyngeal carcinomas

TY - JOUR

T1 - HPV DNA and p53 alterations in oropharyngeal carcinomas

AU - Barten, M

AU - Ostwald, C

AU - Milde-Langosch, K

AU - Müller, P

AU - Wukasch, Y

AU - Löning, T

PY - 1995

Y1 - 1995

N2 - We have examined a series of 37 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas for the presence of HPV 6/11, 16, and 18 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/Southern blotting and for p53 alterations by immunohistochemistry and mutation screening with temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). HPV sequences were found in a total of 26 of 37 cancers (70.3%), most frequently HPV 16 (20/37) followed by HPV 18 (11/37). Double infections with HPV 16 and 18 were present in 5 tumours. p53 accumulation was detectable immunohistochemically in 21 of 37 carcinomas (56.8%). There were remarkable differences in the distribution of immunoreactive tumour cells in relation to the tumour grade. A mutation screening for p53 by TGGE, directed to the amplified exons 5-8, revealed p53 mutations in 14 of 37 carcinomas (37.8%). Mutations in two different exons were present in 3 tumours, 11 tumours being hit once. Exon 7 was mutated in 6 carcinomas, exons 5 and 8 in 4 cases, and exon 6 in 3 cases. When grouping the tumours with p53 mutation according to their HPV state, HPV-positive cases showed slightly more mutations (11/26) than HPV-negative cases (3/11). Only 5 of 37 carcinomas (13.5%) contained neither HPV DNA nor p53 alterations. Our results indicate that high-risk HPV and p53 mutations frequently coexist in oropharyngeal carcinomas, in contrast to genital tumours, notably carcinomas of the cervix uteri. This may reflect different pathways in carcinogenesis in squamous cell epithelium from different sites.

AB - We have examined a series of 37 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas for the presence of HPV 6/11, 16, and 18 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/Southern blotting and for p53 alterations by immunohistochemistry and mutation screening with temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). HPV sequences were found in a total of 26 of 37 cancers (70.3%), most frequently HPV 16 (20/37) followed by HPV 18 (11/37). Double infections with HPV 16 and 18 were present in 5 tumours. p53 accumulation was detectable immunohistochemically in 21 of 37 carcinomas (56.8%). There were remarkable differences in the distribution of immunoreactive tumour cells in relation to the tumour grade. A mutation screening for p53 by TGGE, directed to the amplified exons 5-8, revealed p53 mutations in 14 of 37 carcinomas (37.8%). Mutations in two different exons were present in 3 tumours, 11 tumours being hit once. Exon 7 was mutated in 6 carcinomas, exons 5 and 8 in 4 cases, and exon 6 in 3 cases. When grouping the tumours with p53 mutation according to their HPV state, HPV-positive cases showed slightly more mutations (11/26) than HPV-negative cases (3/11). Only 5 of 37 carcinomas (13.5%) contained neither HPV DNA nor p53 alterations. Our results indicate that high-risk HPV and p53 mutations frequently coexist in oropharyngeal carcinomas, in contrast to genital tumours, notably carcinomas of the cervix uteri. This may reflect different pathways in carcinogenesis in squamous cell epithelium from different sites.

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

KW - DNA, Viral

KW - Female

KW - Genes, p53

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Mutation

KW - Oropharyngeal Neoplasms

KW - Papillomaviridae

KW - Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 7582245

VL - 427

SP - 153

EP - 157

JO - VIRCHOWS ARCH

JF - VIRCHOWS ARCH

SN - 0945-6317

IS - 2

ER -