Association between human herpesviruses and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a molecular perspective

BACKGROUND:
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common malignant tumor. Herpesviruses are a significant risk factor in the multifactorial pathogenesis of HNC.


OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to investigate the association between herpesviruses and the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HN-SCC).


DESIGN:
Experimental study


SETTING:
A university hospital in Turkey


PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Pathological archive tissue samples of 500 patients were included in the study. These samples were categorized into two groups: those diagnosed with HN-SCC (n=300, malignant group [MG]) and those diagnosed with benign head and neck lesions (n=200, benign group [BG]). The presence of herpesvirus in samples was detected using polymerase chain reaction.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Association of herpesviruses in the development of head and neck cancer.


SAMPLE SIZE:
500 patients


RESULTS:
HHV-1, -2, -7, and -8 were not detected in any samples. In the malignant group (MG), EBV-DNA was detected in 1 patient (0.3%) and HHV-6 DNA in 2 patients (0.6%), while in the benign group (BG), VZV-DNA was detected in 1 patient (0.5%), EBV-DNA in 3 patients (1.5%), CMV-DNA in 5 patients (2.5%), and HHV-6 DNA in 3 patients (1.5%). While no significant difference was found between the groups for VZV, EBV, and HHV-6, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the benign group for CMV.


CONCLUSION:
Although herpesvirus seroprevalence is relatively high in the population, the lack of viral genome in tissue samples indicates that other factors might be prominent in developing HN-SCC.


LIMITATION:
The storage conditions of the sample used (paraffinized sample) may have negatively affected the detection frequency of HHVs.