Association of p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism with human papillomavirus type 16 status in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in non-hispanic whites

Background: The tumor protein p73 interacts with the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) oncoproteins E6 and E7, and p73 variation may modify the interaction between p73 protein and HPV-16 oncogenic proteins and contribute to cellular malignant transformation. Methods: In this case-case comparison study, the authors analyzed HPV-16 status in tumor specimens and genotyped the p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism using genomic DNA from blood of 202 non-Hispanic white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in univariate and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between the p73 polymorphism and HPV-16 status in SCCHN. Results: Compared with the p73 GC/GC genotype, the AT/AT and combined GC/AT + AT/AT variant genotypes were associated significantly with HPV-16-positive tumor status among patients with SCCHN (adjusted OR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.32-21.4; adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03-3.53, respectively). There was a significant dose-effect relation between the AT allele and HPV-16-positive tumor status in patients with SCCHN (trend test: P =.014). Moreover, the stratified analyses indicated that the association between HPV-16-positive tumor status and the combined p73 GC/AT + AT/AT genotypes was more pronounced among several subgroups of patients who were older, men, ever drinkers, and those with oropharyngeal cancer. Conclusions: The p73 polymorphism was associated with HPV-16 status in SCCHN and may serve as a marker of positive HPV-16 tumor status in patients with SCCHN, particularly those with oropharyngeal cancer.