Evaluation of changes caused by HR-HPV infection in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck using Raman microspectroscopy in combination with multivariate statistical analysis

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (HNSCC), with a positive status for high oncogenic potential human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), represents a clinically distinct disease entity compared to HPV-independent cases. Patients exhibit variations in prognosis and proposed therapy regimens. A prompt and reliable diagnosis of the presence of HPV infection could optimize the treatment for these patients. Currently employed treatment methods are long-term, expensive, and lack specificity, especially when administered separately. Material and methods: The research objective of this study is to explore significant differences in the Raman spectra of biological samples taken from patients with HNSCC, facilitating the confirmation of HPV virus presence. Study groups were delineated based on histopathological diagnosis and molecular biology tests, confirming the biological activity of the virus and the presence of the HR-HPV form with a diagnosis of a specific subtype. Results: To identify high oncogenic potential human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection as a crucial factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region, an effective automatic data analysis system was established, relying on Raman microspectroscopy and multivariate analysis. Our results showed clear ranges of the Raman spectrum that differentiated between HPV-associated and non-HPV-associated cancers. Conclusions: In conclusion, our experience shows a great diagnostic potential of Raman confocal microscopy with multidimensional statistical analysis. In the future, the use of this method may allow for the creation of an effective and automated HR-HPV detection system in neoplastic tissue.