DT News - UK - New HPV test may improve oral cancer treatment

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 6 November 2012

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LIVERPOOL – Owing to the absence of a uniform testing standard within the NHS, researchers have analysed a new test developed to classify oropharyngeal cancers as human papillomavirus (HPV) positive or negative. Through the new test, which can be carried out in clinical settings, mouth cancer patients could be offered less intensive treatment with fewer side-effects.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the Newcastle University evaluated the new RNA-based in situ hybridisation test that was developed by Advanced Cell Diagnostics, a manufacturer of cell- and tissue-based diagnostic tests for cancer management from Hayward, California, USA.

They screened 79 tumour samples for HPV using different techniques and found that the RNA scope test was as accurate and reliable as other more complex laboratory tests in classifying the cancer as either HPV positive or negative, which would enable clinicians to offer the appropriate treatment.

According to the researchers, the risk of death from HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is 50 to 80 per cent lower than from HPV-negative tumours. However, these patients are usually younger and may face long-term treatment-related side-effects. Thus, they hope that this new method will help to improve treatment choices and survival rates significantly.

As the test showed both promising analytical and prognostic performance in preliminary tests, the researchers think that it could be adopted as an international standard test for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in clinical practice.

“It has the potential to benefit NHS patients because it will help to ensure that they get the most appropriate treatment for their cancer,” said Andrew Schache, study author and researcher at the University of Liverpool’s School of Dentistry.

According to a study published in December 2011 in the British Journal of Cancer, an estimated 5,100 cases of cancer in the UK in 2010 were linked to HPV infection.

This week, the findings of the present study are being presented at the eighth National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference, a forum that showcases British and international cancer research. The conference runs until 7 November in Liverpool.

The study was published in the July issue of the Head and Neck Pathology journal.

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