Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) assay and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) are used to determine high-risk HPV status in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Although high sensitivity and specificity for HPV can be obtained by combined p16 IHC and HPV DNA ISH, the occasional discrepancy between these assays has prompted evaluation of Cervista HPV assays in FFPE tissue from patients with oropharyngeal SCC.
To compare the efficacy of Cervista HPV 16/18 and Cervista HPV HR assay to that of HPV DNA ISH assay and p16 IHC in FFPE tissue in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of oropharyngeal origin.
Archived FFPE tissue from 84 patients with SCC of oropharyngeal origin and available HPV DNA ISH and p16 IHC test results were tested with the Cervista HPV 16/18 assay and further verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based HPV16/18 genotyping tests in cases with discrepancy.
Of the 84 specimens, 75% (63 of 84) were positive and 16% (13 of 84) had discrepant or equivocal findings by p16 IHC and HPV DNA ISH testing. Use of Cervista HPV assays, either to clarify discrepant/equivocal findings or as confirmation after initial p16 IHC/HPV DNA ISH tests, identified 81% (68 of 84) of HPV-positive cases without equivocal HPV results. Five of 13 cases with discrepancy or equivocal HPV DNA ISH results tested positive for HPV16 or HPV18 by Cervista HPV 16/18 assay, which was further confirmed by PCR-based HPV 16/18 genotyping.
The Cervista HPV assays are a reasonable alternative to HPV DNA ISH in determining HPV status in FFPE tissue specimens from patients with oropharyngeal SCC.