Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar carcinomas are frequent and have a favourable prognosis in males in Norway.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar tumours (52%). The survival of the HPV-positive group was significantly better in males.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the prevalence of HPV in 137 patients with tonsillar carcinomas, measured the p53- and Ki-67-positive tumour cell fractions and correlated the results with clinical variables.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Tumour DNA from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region was amplified by PCR and sequenced for detection of HPV subtypes.

RESULTS

HPV was found in 71/137 (52%) of the tumours; HPV-16 was the most frequent subtype (87%). HPV positivity did not correlate with gender, stage, T- and N categories, Ki-67 expression or p53 positivity. The HPV-positive group had a significantly better survival (p < 0.01) compared with the HPV-negative group in males. In a multivariate analysis HPV status gave prognostic information in addition to the earlier established factors, i.e. age, gender and stage (p < 0.05).