Human papillomavirus status and gene expression profiles of oropharyngeal and oral cancers from European American and African American patients

Abstract

Background Disparities in prevalence, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and mortality rates for head and neck cancer have been described between African American and European American patients. Methods We studied the HPV status and gene expression profiles in 56 oropharyngeal/oral cavity tumors and 9 normal tissue samples from European American and African American patients treated in South Carolina between 2010 and 2012. Results Overall, 59% of tumors were HPV DNA-positive, but only 48% of those expressed E7 mRNA (HPV-active). The prevalence of HPV-active tumors was 10% in African American patients and 39% in European American patients. Tumors positive for HPV DNA but negative for HPV mRNA exhibited gene expression profiles distinct from those of both HPV-active and HPV-negative cancers, suggesting that HPV DNA-positive/RNA-negative tumors may constitute a unique group. Conclusion This study provides a direct assessment of differential expression patterns in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer arising from African American and European American patients, for which there is a paucity of data.