Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Multiple Analytes and Their Role in Patient Survival.

Purpose: Accurate detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is essential to understanding the role of HPV in disease prognosis and management of patients. We used different analytes and methods to understand the true prevalence of HPV in a cohort of patients with OSCC with different molecular backgrounds, and we correlated HPV data with patient survival.

Methods: We integrated data from multiple analytes (HPV DNA, HPV RNA, and p16), assays (immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction [PCR], quantitative PCR [qPCR], and digital PCR), and molecular changes (somatic mutations and DNA methylation) from 153 patients with OSCC to correlate p16 expression, HPV DNA, and HPV RNA with HPV incidence and patient survival.

A Minimal DNA Methylation Signature in Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Links Altered Methylation with Tumor Attributes.

Unlabelled: Oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC) are a homogenous group of aggressive tumors in the head and neck region that spread early to lymph nodes and have a higher incidence of regional failure. In addition, there is a rising incidence of oral tongue cancer in younger populations. Studies on functional DNA methylation changes linked with altered gene expression are critical for understanding the mechanisms underlying tumor development and metastasis.