Background: Determining high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) status of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) defines a tumor subset with important clinical implications. Cytologic sampling often provides the sentinel or sole diagnostic specimen. The authors assessed the performance characteristics for the Roche cobas 4800 HPV real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based system (cobas) on cytologic specimens of HNSCC compared with standard methods of in situ hybridization (ISH) for HR-HPV and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16 on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.
Methods: Samples of HNSCC were collected by fine-needle aspiration and from surgical biopsies or resections, fixed, and processed with the cobas system. Available corresponding FFPE samples were synchronously evaluated for HR-HPV using ISH and IHC. Discrepant cases underwent additional PCR studies for adjudication.
Results: Thirty-six samples from 33 patients were analyzed. Forty-two percent (n = 15) of tumors were positive for HR-HPV according to cobas. Corresponding histology with ISH (n = 30) was concordant in 91% of samples. Compared with the adjudication PCR standard, there were 3 false-positive cases according to cobas. Ninety-two percent (n = 12) of cases were the HPV16 subtype. The overall sensitivity for the cobas system was 100%, and the specificity was 86%.
Conclusions: Concordance in HNSCC HR-HPV status between cobas and ISH/IHC was > 90%, and cobas demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86%, broadening options for HR-HPV testing of fine-needle aspiration samples. Advantages for this system include subtyping of HR-HPV and the ability to discern HR-HPV status earlier in a patient's treatment course.
Keywords: cobas; cytology; fine-needle aspiration; head and neck; human papillomavirus; polymerase chain reaction; squamous cell carcinoma.
© 2013 American Cancer Society.