Circulating tumor HPV DNA as an alternative method to determine HPV status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Todd Lambert; Jason Tasoulas; Melissa Flores; Siddharth Sheth; Samip N Patel

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106361

Circulating tumor HPV DNA as an alternative method to determine HPV status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Oral Oncol. 2023 May:140:106361. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106361. Epub 2023 Mar 23.

Authors

Todd Lambert¹, Jason Tasoulas¹, Melissa Flores², Siddharth Sheth³, Samip N Patel⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
² Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
³ Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. Electronic address: Siddharth.sheth@med.unc.edu.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.

PMID: 36965412
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106361

Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing is mandatory for all newly diagnosed oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) due to its importance for prognostication and aiding in treatment decision making. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a widely used and accepted diagnostic tool for OPSCC. Although FNA can accurately determine histological diagnosis, results are often indeterminate or lack insufficient samples for HPV testing. For samples with an indeterminant FNA, we propose an alternate method for determining HPV status using circulating tumor tissue modified HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA). We report three cases that confirmed HPV status using ctHPVDNA following an indeterminate FNA. If validated, this non-invasive assay could prevent the need for repeat FNAs or operative biopsies for the sole purpose of determining HPV status.

Keywords: FNA; HPV; Liquid Biopsy; NavDx ®; Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; ctHPVDNA.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle / methods
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Humans
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms*
Papillomaviridae / genetics
Papillomavirus Infections* / complications
Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck