In situ hybridization for human papillomavirus DNA in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and inverted papillomas

There is increasing molecular and epidemiologic evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with distinct subset of head and neck lesions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible relationship between the presence of HPV DNA and morphological signs of HPV infections in twenty-six formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and seventeen cases of sinonasal inverted papillomas, retrieved from archival material. Ten out of twenty-six cases of cancers and eleven out of seventeen sinonasal inverted papillomas showed morphological signs of HPV infections. All cases have been analyzed using in situ hybridization. The expression of HPV DNA was noted in both examined groups of squamous cell carcinomas and in group of sinonasal inverted papillomas when the morphological signs of HPV infections were present. No significant differences in the frequency of HPV DNA expression were noted in both examined groups of cancers and inverted papillomas (with and without morphological signs of HPV infection). In conclusion, our study confirms the role of HPVs in pathogenesis of inverted papillomas and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas. However, there is no relevant relationship between the presence of HPV DNA and morphological signs of HPV infections in studied cases.