HPV

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of this study was to identify the presence and frequency of human papillomavirus (HPV) nucleic acid in p16-positive oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), to assess whether the virus was transcriptionally active and to assess the utility of p16 overexpression as a surrogate marker for HPV in OSCC.

METHODS:

The aim of this study is comparing two in situ hybridization (ISH) detection methods for human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 E6/E7 mRNA, i.e. the RNAscope™ 2.0 High Definition (HD) and the upgraded RNAscope™ 2.5 HD version. The RNAscope™ 2.5 HD has recently replaced the RNAscope™ 2.0 HD detection kit.

Abstract

Detection of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is important, as HPV-associated HNSCCs respond better to therapy. The RNAscope HPV-test is a novel RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) technique which strongly stains transcripts of E6 and E7 mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, with the potential to replace the indirect immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for p16 protein.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with several genetic alterations including oncogene amplification, leading to increased aggression of tumors. Recently, a relationship between HPV infection and oncogene amplification has been reported, but this finding remains controversial.

We have previously demonstrated that transcriptionally active high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) is strongly incriminated in Barrett's dysplasia (BD) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) using mainly fresh frozen tissue.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas have a more favorable prognosis than HPV-negative ones. p16 immunohistochemistry has been recommended as a prognostic test in clinical practice. Several p16 antibodies are available, and their performance has not been directly compared.

Dysregulated expression of oncogenic types of E6 and E7 is necessary for human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven carcinogenesis. An HPV E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) assay covering 18 common high-risk types ("HR-RISH," aka HR-HPV RNA18 ISH) has not been extensively studied in the anogenital tract or validated on automated technology.

Detection of active human papillomavirus (HPV) is clinically important, as its presence has been shown to correlate with favorable clinical outcomes and better response to treatment in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Using a clinical automated platform, we compared the performance of commercially available HPV DNA and RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) probes in archival tissues of 57 SCC.

Abstract