Differences in microbial colonization in p16-positive and p16-negative oropharyngeal carcinomas

HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) differ from HPV-negative OPSCC regarding their tumor biology. For HPV-positive OPSCC patients, this results in a significantly better response to conventional therapy regimens. In this study, we investigated whether and to what extent microbial colonization differs in OPSCC depending on HPV status to ultimately derive potential immunotherapeutic approaches. 48 patients with newly diagnosed OPSCC were included in the study. For all patients, microbial swabs were obtained from both the tumor and the healthy mucosa and analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. In addition, tissue samples were obtained from the tumor to allow for immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor microenvironment. p16 served as a surrogate marker for HPV association in the study. 64.6% (n=31/48) of patients were p16-positive, 35.4% (n=17/48) were p16-negative. Microbial analysis revealed diversity differences for p16-positive tumors compared with p16-negative tumors, particularly in the abundance of fusobacteria and streptococci. Immunohistochemistry also revealed immunological differences in the tumor microenvironment depending on p16 status. Our study shows differences in microbial colonization between p16-positive and p16-negative OPSCC. Correlation of microbial activity with immunological processes in the tumor milieu is required for the development of immunological therapeutic approaches and is currently in progress.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023