Circulating antibodies to HPV16 E6 associated with oropharyngeal cancer risk

At least 30% of cases of oropharyngeal cancer in Europe are human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-related, reports a study led by scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on 16 March 2013.

In the study, Dr Devasena Anantharaman and colleagues examined the association between the presence of circulating antibodies to type-specific HPV antigens and cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract. HPV16 E6 antibodies were specific to HPV16-related oropharyngeal cancers. Continuing efforts are needed to consider both HPV serology and p16 staining as biomarkers relevant to the etiology and natural history of HPV16-related oropharyngeal tumours, the study concluded.

D Anantharaman, T Gheit, T Waterboer, B Abedi-Ardekani, C Carreira, S McKay-Chopin, V Gaborieau, M Marron, et al
JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2013) doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt053
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