Human papillomavirus infection in "young" versus "old" patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Background. Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents a potential risk factor f or squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN). We evaluated the prev alence of HPV DNA in patients with SCCHN diagnosed at the University of Mic higan from 1994-1996. Methods. Patients were stratified by age at diagnosis as "young" (<50 years ; median, 39) or "old" (>50 years; median, 66). Fourteen "young" and 14 "ol d" were matched for tumor site, and 4 additional "old" patients were includ ed. Specimens were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for HPV DNA using 2 sets of consensus primers. HPV sequences were confirmed by Southern blot hybridization and typed with type-specific probes. Results. Overall, 15 of 32 (46.9%) samples contained HPV sequences. HPV 16 was detected in 9 of 15 (60%), HPV-18 in 1 of 15 (6.6%), and 5 of 15 (33.3% ) remained untyped by multiple methods. When stratified, 7 of 14 (50%) "you ng" were HPV-positive compared with 8 of 18 (44.4%) "old" (p = .76). Surviv al in patients with HPV-positive SCCHN was significantly longer than that f or HPV-negative patients. Conclusions. The incidence of HPV in "young" versus "old" is not significan tly different, suggesting similar roles for both groups. Patients with HPV- positive tumors may have a survival advantage relative to patients with HPV -negative tumors. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.