2. Academic Validation
  3. Oropharyngeal cancers: relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor alterations and human papillomavirus status

Oropharyngeal cancers: relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor alterations and human papillomavirus status

  • Eur J Cancer. 2014 Apr;50(6):1100-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.12.018.
H Mirghani 1,  F Amen 2,  F Moreau 3,  J Guigay 4,  D M Hartl 5,  J Lacau St Guily 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Electronic address: haitham.mirghani@gustaveroussy.fr.
  • 2 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Electronic address: furratamen@gmail.com.
  • 3 Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI and Hospital Tenon Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, France. Electronic address: Frederiquemoreau@gmail.com.
  • 4 Department of Medical Oncology, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Electronic address: Guiguay.joel@gustaveroussy.fr.
  • 5 Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Electronic address: Dana.hartl@gustaveroussy.fr.
  • 6 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris VI and Hospital Tenon Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, France. Electronic address: jean.lacau@tnn.aphp.fr.
PMID: 24424107 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.12.018
Abstract

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), particularly type 16, is now recognised as a causative agent in a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). These tumours are on the increase and generally have a better prognosis than their HPV negative counterparts. This raises the question of de escalation therapy to reduce long term consequences in a younger cohort of patients with a long life expectancy. Several clinical trials with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, particularly cetuximab, are ongoing. Few data exist on the relationship between EGFR and HPV induced oropharyngeal cancers. We summarise the main studies in relation to EGFR alterations (gene copy number, protein expression and mutations) and the impact on prognosis of HPV positive tumours that express high levels of EGFR. We also discuss the opportunity of targeting this pathway in light of recent studies.

Keywords

Cetuximab; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal cancers.

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