Might Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Healthy Individuals Explain Differences in HPV-Attributable Fractions in Oropharyngeal Cancer? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background. Differences in oral human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and contrasts in HPV-attributable fractions (AFs) in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) have not been evaluated in depth. Methods. A systematic review was performed to identify studies in which at least 50 healthy individuals were tested...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Mena Cervigón, Marisa, Taberna, Miren, Monfil, Laura, Arbyn, Marc, Sanjosé Llongueras, Silvia de, Bosch José, Francesc Xavier, 1947-, Alemany i Vilches, Laia, Bruni, Laia
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/171544
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/171544
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Papil·lomavirus
Càncer de coll
Càncer de cap
Papillomaviruses
Neck cancer
Head cancer
Description
Summary:Background. Differences in oral human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and contrasts in HPV-attributable fractions (AFs) in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) have not been evaluated in depth. Methods. A systematic review was performed to identify studies in which at least 50 healthy individuals were tested for oral HPV infection. Information on sex, age, tobacco/alcohol consumption, sex practices, specimen collection, HPV detection, and population type was extracted. Prevalences were pooled using random-effects models for meta-analyses of binomial data. Correlations were assessed by the Spearman test. Results. Forty-eight reports comprising 28 544 individuals fulfilled inclusion criteria. Global oral HPV prevalence was 4.9%. Estimates were highest in Europe, although regional differences were not statistically significant. HPV16 prevalence was 1.0% globally, and regional differences became statistically significant. A lifetime history of >6 sex partners showed a higher risk of oral HPV infection. The age-specific HPV distribution revealed a prevalence of >= 5% over 40 years of age and a lower prevalence at younger ages. There was no association between oral HPV prevalence and HPV-AFs or age-standardized rates (ASRs) of OPC, genital HPV in healthy women, or tobacco use. Conclusions. Differences in HPV-AFs or ASRs of OPC cannot be explained by differences in the prevalence of oral HPV infection across healthy populations. Consistent research on determinants of oral HPV prevalence, acquisition, clearance, and persistence is warranted.