The Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related Oropharyngeal and Uncommon Cancers Screening Trial of Men (HOUSTON) was designed to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies to HPV type 16 E proteins (HPV16EAbs), to screen for persistence of HPV and/or detect HPV-related premalignancies and cancers, and to assess acceptance of screening among middle-aged men.
HOUSTON consists of a cross-sectional study and a longitudinal cohort study of men aged 50-64 years. Serologic HPV16EAb status and oral rinse HPV16 status were determined. All HPV16EAb-positive (HPV16EAb+) men and a matched cohort of HPV16EAb-negative (HPV16EAb-) men as well as all oral rinse HPV16-positive (HPV16+) men were included in the longitudinal study (blinded to their results) and underwent oropharyngeal screening every 6 months as well as one-time anal and penile screening.
Of 553 men enrolled in the cross-sectional study, six (1.1%) were HPV16EAb+ (two were also oral rinse HPV16+), and 41 (7.4%) were HPV16EAb- but oral rinse HPV16+. These 47 men, along with five matched controls, were invited to participate in the longitudinal study, and 42 (81%) agreed and completed baseline in-person screening, with 93% and 90% completeing 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. One HPV16EAb+ (also oral rinse HPV16+) man, who declined participation in the longitudinal study, presented 4 months after enrollment with an early-stage HPV16-related pharyngeal cancer. Additionally, one HPV16EAb+ (oral rinse HPV16-) man and two oral rinse HPV16+ (HPV16EAb-) men were diagnosed with oncogenic HPV-associated anal dysplasia.
This biomarker panel deserves further prospective study to explore potential utility for HPV-related cancer screening among men.
Oral oncology. 2021 Jun 25 [Epub ahead of print]
Kristina R Dahlstrom, Karen S Anderson, Ming Guo, Michael C Kwon, Craig A Messick, Curtis A Pettaway, Nancy Asomaning, Marika Hopper, Anthony Price, Li Xu, Andrew T Day, Ann M Gillenwater, Erich M Sturgis
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Center for Personalized Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States., Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Urology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States., Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States., Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States. Electronic address: .