Prognostic significance and association of Helicobacter pylori infection in pharyngolaryngeal cancer

The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) serologic status of patients who underwent for curative resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx and their prognosis. From April 2004 to March 2005, we included eighty patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Control group consisted of 20 healthy patients and 10 patients with Reinke’s edema. Serologic status was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for immunoglobulin G. Patients were followed for 5 years. H. pylori-positive serologic status was statistically significant for the case subjects (70.6 v/s 29.4 %; p < 0.001). Mean overall and disease-free survival were 50.7 months (range 46.9–54.5) and 52.1 months (range 48.3–55.7), respectively. H. pylori-positive serologic status was not associated with a poor prognosis in the Cox regression model (p = 0.77). We observed a positive association between H. pylori infection and laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. But we fail to confirm that the presence of H. pylori infection is associated with poor outcome or a higher recurrence rate.