Impact of human papillomavirus in sinonasal cancer—a systematic review
Sannia Sjöstedt, Christian von Buchwald, Tina Klitmøller Agander, Kasper Aanæs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an established prognostic marker in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, the role of HPV in sinonasal carcinoma is being explored. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review addresses the role of HPV in sinonasal cancer, establishing the occurrence of HPV-positive cancers and the influence of HPV-positivity on prognosis in sinonasal cancer as well as the utility of the putative surrogate marker of HPV (p16) in sinonasal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: OVID (4 May 2020). Articles on original research concerning sinonasal cancer and HPV in humans written in English were included. Case reports with less than five cases were excluded. RESULTS: Initially, 545 articles were identified; 190 duplicate articles were removed leaving 355 articles for title/abstract screening. Title/abstract screening excluded 243 articles, leaving 112 studies assessed for eligibility. After full-text screening, 57 studies were included. All articles investigated the significance of HPV in sinonasal carcinomas. HPV was reported in approximately 30% of sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC), where it was associated with a better prognosis. In sinonasal cancer, p16 is associated with diagnostic pitfalls and a putative utility of p16 in SNSCC has yet to be established. HPV was not frequently reported in other types of sinonasal carcinomas, besides the recently described subtype, HPV-dependent Multiphenotypic Sinonasal Carcinoma. In other types of sinonasal carcinoma, HPV is not frequently found. CONCLUSION: Approximately 30% of SNSCC are HPV-positive. HPV-positivity in SNSCC is associated with improved survival. HPV occurs only rarely in other sinonasal cancers. There is currently not sufficient evidence for p16 as a surrogate marker of HPV in SNSCC.