Correlation between epidemiological, clinical and pathological features and HPV 16 infection in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

HPV DNA was amplified by the nested-PCR method to identify E6/E7 HPV 16 from 72 deep-frozen (-70°C) specimens of LSCC tumours collected after a total laryngectomy. HPV was identified in 38.9% of the specimens. There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of HPV and epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features, and recurrence. There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of HPV and survival. HPV infection is not likely to influence survival rates as an independent prognostic factor in patients with laryngeal cancer. The presence of HPV infection in 38.9% of the cases suggest a possible role in the aetiology of laryngeal cancer and support the role of high-risk types of HPV 16 in LSCC.