Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA | [b] Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA | [c] Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA | [d] School of Life Sciences, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Jonathan D. Schoenfeld, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. Tel.: +1 617 632 3591; Fax: +1 617 632 4247; E-mail:jonathan_schoenfeld@dfci.harvard.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
(OPSCC) is increasing in incidence. Laboratory assays that identify
virally-mediated disease and predict HPV clearance in OPSCC may have
important prognostic implications. OBJECTIVE: Here we investigated serum, salivary HPV16 early (E)
antibodies before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients
with locoregionally advanced OPSCC. METHODS: We prospectively measured salivary, serum samples at the
beginning of and 6-7 weeks following the completion of CRT in 44 patients.
IgG antibodies targeting N- and C-terminal fragments of E2 (NE2, CE2), E6
and E7 were measured by programmable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We observed serum antibodies directed against
HPV-associated E proteins in patients with HPV-associated OPSCC. E7 directed
antibodies were detected in saliva in the majority of patients, and were
associated with HPV status (p= 0.03). When analyzed longitudinally, median
salivary E7 antibody levels decreased significantly post-treatment (p= 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the feasibility of measuring
HPV16 E antibodies in saliva and serum. E7 antibodies, in particular, are
more detectable in saliva as compared with other E protein antibodies.
Measuring E7 salivary antibody levels at various time points may have
utility in understanding HPV clearance and should be explored for their
ability to predict the risk of recurrence.
Keywords: HPV, saliva, antibodies, oropharyngeal cancer
