To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: New Noninvasive Methods Identified for Detecting Human Papillomavirus: Presented at AHNS URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/226302.htm Doctor's Guide July 22, 2008
By Arushi Sinha SAN FRANCISCO -- July 22, 2008 -- There are new noninvasive methods for detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), according to study results presented here at the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) 7th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer. The objective of the study was to determine if salivary samples could be used to detect the presence of HPV, including its particularly virulent subtypes, which are linked to about one-quarter of HNSCC. "The main question was: Can there be a simple, noninvasive test to detect HPV?" explained Seema Sethi, MD, Department of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, in a poster presentation on July 20. To answer this question, the study team collected saliva samples from 45 patients diagnosed with HNSCC along with samples from 21 control subjects without HNSCC. A series of polymerase chain reaction assays detected and identified specific strains of the HPV virus, including types 16, 18, and 33. Results showed that HPV was detected in 38% of 45 patients diagnosed with HNSCC and in 1 patient (5%) in the control group. Of the carcinoma patients, 27% had HPV 16 and 11% were infected with HPV 33. When compared with the control group, the findings for carcinoma patients were statistically significant for HPV in general (P = .006) and HPV 16 (P = .007), in particular. An additional subset analysis of 27 patients found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the occurrence of TP53 gene loss and HPV 16 positivity (P = .049). TP53 gene loss was seen in 13% of patients without HPV 16 and 45% of patients with HPV 16. Based on these findings, the research team concluded that there is a noninvasive method for detecting the presence of HPV infection. In addition, HPV 16 is positively correlated with HNSCC, particularly when compared with HPV 33. The researchers also concluded that reductions in TP53 gene loss may indicate the presence of HPV 16. "HPV plays a role as a prognostic marker for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and we may now have a simple test for it," said Dr. Sethi. She added, "Smoking and alcohol continue to be risk factors, so it is important that people stop smoking to help prevent these cancers." [Presentation title: Noninvasive Detection of HPV and Associated Genetic Alterations in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Abstract P262] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.