Search Results (4)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of PD-L1, PD-1, CD3, CD4, and CD8 in tumor tissues of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from southern Poland, and to assess their prognostic value in relation to disease-free survival (DFS), taking into account HPV16 status and other clinical, pathological, and demographic factors. Material/Methods: This study included 155 unselected patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) from the southern Poland region, who underwent diagnostic evaluation and surgical treatment. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks were obtained from these centers. The patients were treated at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Kraków Branch, between 1991 and 2014, with treatment approaches including induction therapy (preoperative), adjuvant therapy (postoperative), or definitive chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin. Protein expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry and quantified (TPS, CPS, H-score). Relationships between expression levels and epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological features were analyzed. Results: The results show that PD-L1 overexpression was associated with worse DFS, whereas overexpression of PD-1, CD3, CD4, and CD8 correlated with improved DFS. These associations were statistically significant in the HPV16-negative subgroup, while no such correlations were found in HPV16-positive patients. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors associated with improved DFS included HPV16 infection, absence of PD-L1 overexpression, overexpression of CD4 and CD8, and combined chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin. Conclusions: These findings confirm the prognostic relevance of PD-L1, PD-1, and T-cell markers in HNSCC, particularly in HPV16-negative patients, and support further research into the use of these biomarkers in personalized treatment strategies. Full article

Cervical cancer screening plays a crucial role in preventing invasive disease through early detection of high-grade lesions. However, traditional cytology and histology often fail to reliably differentiate between transient HPV infections and those likely to progress. This study investigates the feasibility of integrating molecular HPV testing into histopathological workflows using FFPE tissue samples to improve diagnostic precision. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 55 FFPE cervical specimens from patients undergoing colposcopy with biopsy or conization. The workflow included automated DNA extraction and real-time PCR-based HPV genotyping with the Seegene Anyplex II HPV28 assay. HPV DNA was detected in 56.4% of samples, with 21 genotypes, including multiple high-risk types. High viral loads correlated with high-grade lesions, supporting the clinical value of HPV quantification. Compared to histology, molecular analysis reduced potential overdiagnosis by confirming HPV absence in morphologically suspicious but HPV-negative lesions. Integrating viral load and genotyping improved risk stratification, optimizing colposcopy referrals and reducing unnecessary follow-ups. This study introduces a novel, fully automated molecular workflow applicable to FFPE samples, enhancing cervical cancer screening beyond traditional methods. Although based on a limited sample, the findings support the method’s potential for broader implementation and further validation in multicenter settings. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical cancer, a significant health concern worldwide. Despite advances in screening methods, including the Pap test and the HPV DNA test, limitations remain in accurately predicting which HPV infections will progress to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and, eventually, invasive cancer. This study evaluates the usefulness in real life of assessing HPV viral load and the presence of multiple HPV genotypes in enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of triage in cervical cancer screening. A retrospective analysis was performed on 55 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cervical samples collected from women who underwent colposcopy with a biopsy or conization at San Martino Hospital, Genova, Italy, between January and June 2021. Histological diagnoses were compared with molecular analyses (HPV genotyping, viral load quantification and co-infection) using a multiplex real-time PCR platform. Of the samples analyzed, 56.4% were HPV DNA positive, while 40% tested negative. The molecular analysis identified more HPV-negative cases than the histological analysis (p < 0.05). Higher viral loads and HPV co-infections were more frequent in high-grade CIN lesions. These markers may help identify patients at an elevated risk for persistent infections and cancer progression. These findings support the potential of integrating HPV viral load and genotype co-infection assessments into routine cervical cancer screening protocols to improve early detection and reduce overtreatment and unnecessary interventions. Full article

Human Papilloma virus infection is the fundamental reason for the development of ano-genital malignancies and knowing the best tool for diagnostic purposes is mandatory. This study investigated the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV genotypes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 125 blocks from patients with different anogenital lesions were collected. Three internal sections were taken for HPV detection and genotyping using the paraffin tissue processing kit and HPV Direct Flow CHIP. HPV positivity was detected in 90 (72.0%), with 77 (85.6%) females and 13 (14.4%) males as follows: SCC 64.0%, CINIII 66.7%, CINII 100.0%, CINI 83.3%, KA 83.7%, NILM 44.0%, Anus 66.6%. A total of 44% of histologically unremarkable (negative) cases were positive for HPV genotypes while in only 64% of SCC were HPV genotypes detected. Sixty-six (73.3%) cases were low-risk, and 16 (17.8%) cases were high-risk genotypes, mostly cervical lesions, while seven (7.8%) cases showed a mixed viral detection. The most frequent low-risk genotype was HPV6 genotype (62–68.9%), while the prevalent high-risk HPV was HPV16 genotype (12–13.3%). In this study, HPV16 was more frequently detected than HR-HPV, but mainly in cervical lesion, while HPV6 topped the LR-HPV infections amongst different anogenital lesions in Duhok-Iraq. Higher HPV positivity among cytological unremarkable and abnormal cases may reflect the higher sensitivity of the direct flow CHIP diagnostic technique. The results demonstrate that screening for HPV is essential to reduce cancer development and planning for the vaccine’s introduction in Iraq. Full article