Source
2nd Department of Surgery, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary. bgabor@kut.sote.hu
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in esophageal cancer cases has been found in 0-70%, depending on different methods and geographical variances. Complete pathological response has been found in 30% of cases after neoadjuvant chemo-radiation (CRX). The aim of this study was to discover a possible relation between HPV-infection and response.
METHODOLOGY:
DNA was obtained from 26 esophageal cancer patients undergoing CRX and surgery. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern Blot hybridization was used to detect HPV-infection (HPV-16 and -18). Clinicopathological parameters, disease-free survival and overall survival were also analyzed.
RESULTS:
Complete response (26.9%) and partial response (38.5%) after CRX was correlated significantly with better prognosis. Six patients had HPV-infection (3 from the CR- and 3 from PR-group).
CONCLUSIONS:
There was correlation between HPV-infection and response, but further analyses are necessary. Both responder-groups had a significantly better prognosis than non-responders.