Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Entity with Distinct Morphologic and Clinical Features

HPV-associated oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is not well-characterized in the literature, and also has a clinical significance that is poorly understood.

We gathered a cohort of oral cavity (OC) SCC with nonkeratinizing morphology, either in the invasive or in situ carcinoma (or both), tested for p16 by immunohistochemistry and high risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA by RTPCR (reference standard for transcriptionally-active high risk HPV) and gathered detailed morphologic and clinicopathologic data.

Thirteen patients from two institutions were proven to be HPV-associated by combined p16 and high risk HPV mRNA positivity. All 13 patients (100%) were males, all were heavy smokers (average 57 pack/year), and most were active drinkers (9/11 or 81.8%). All 13 (100%) involved the tongue and/or floor of mouth. All had nonkeratinizing features, but maturing squamous differentiation varied widely (0–90%; mean 37.3%). Nonkeratinizing areas had high N:C ratios and larger nests, frequently with pushing borders, and minimal (or no) stromal desmoplasia. The carcinoma in situ, when present, was Bowenoid/nonkeratinizing with cells with high N:C ratios, full thickness loss of maturation, and abundant apoptosis and mitosis. HPV was type 16 in 11 patients (84.6%) and type 33 in two (15.4%). Nine patients had treatment data available. These underwent primary surgical resection with tumors ranging from 1.6 to 5.2 cm. Most had bone invasion (6/9–66.7% were T4a tumors), and most (6/9–66.7%) had extensive SCC in situ with all 6 of these patients having final margins positive for in situ carcinoma.

HPV-associated OCSCC is an uncommon entity that shows certain distinct clinical and pathologic features. Recognition of these features may help pathologic diagnosis and could potentially help guide clinical management.