Human papillomavirus infection and its biomarkers' expressions in laryngeal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma

Aims: To investigate the frequency and transcriptional activity of HPV and its correlation to p16 and p21 expression in basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) of the larynx.

Methods: We evaluated tissues from 29 patients with BSCC of the larynx for the expressions of p16 and p21 proteins by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and for HPV E6 and E7 mRNA by RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). The presence of genotype-specific HPV DNA was evaluated using PCR-RDB in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. P16 and p21 expression and HPV DNA status were correlated with clinicopathological features.

Results: HPV DNA was detected in 8 of 29 (27.59%) patients, with HPV-16 being the predominant genotype. P16 and p21-positivity were observed in 7/29 (24.14%) and 8/29 (27.59%) patients, respectively. HPV was not correlated with p16 expression (P > 0.05). However, p21 expression was significantly higher in HPV-positive tumors than in HPV-negative tumors (P < 0.05). No cases exhibited transcriptionally active HPV in our series.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a small fraction of BSCC of the larynx is HPV DNA-positive in this Chinese population, p21 expression was significantly higher in HPV-positive tumors, and no cases were HPV transcriptionally active in this small cohort. Further research of HPV and its role in BSCC of the larynx are warranted.