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Human Papillomavirus-Related Carcinomas of the Sinonasal Tract

  • HEAD AND NECK: Human Papilloma Virus Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (WK Mydlarz and C Fakhry, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The sinonasal tract is home to a uniquely heterogenous collection of malignant tumors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been detected in a number of these, but the virus’ role as an oncogenic driver or coincidental finding remains unclear. We aim to highlight five sinonasal tumor types and synthesize the prevalence, etiologic role, and known clinicopathologic relevance of HPV in each.

Recent Findings

The last decade has seen an expansion of investigation into HPV’s oncogenic and prognostic significance within sinonasal malignancies. The sinonasal tract poses challenges to HPV detection where p16 lacks value as an accurate surrogate. A growing body of data supports a potentially favorable clinical profile for certain sinonasal HPV-positive lesions.

Summary

HPV represents a potential biologically and clinically relevant factor for some sinonasal malignancies. Definitive conclusions regarding HPV’s role as a potential oncogenic agent require routine testing using validated methodologies, genomic interrogation, and large-scale prospective studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Carter Van Waes and Dr. Clint Allen for critical review of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported (in part) by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, NIDCD. This research was made possible through the NIH Medical Research Scholars Program, a public–private partnership supported jointly by the NIH and contributions to the NIH from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF Grant #2,014,194), the American Association for Dental Research, the Colgate-Palmolive Company, Genentech, Elsevier, and other private donors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sinonasal and Skull Base Tumor Program, National Institute On Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Diana C. Lopez, Austin T. K. Hoke & Nyall R. London Jr.

  2. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Diana C. Lopez

  3. University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Austin T. K. Hoke

  4. Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Lisa M. Rooper

  5. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nyall R. London Jr.

  6. Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nyall R. London Jr.

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Correspondence to Nyall R. London Jr..

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N. London receives research funding from Merck regarding HPV-related sinonasal carcinomas. N. London holds stock in Navigen Pharmaceuticals and was a consultant for Cooltech Inc., neither of which are relevant to the present manuscript. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on HEAD AND NECK: Human Papilloma Virus Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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Lopez, D.C., Hoke, A.T.K., Rooper, L.M. et al. Human Papillomavirus-Related Carcinomas of the Sinonasal Tract. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 10, 291–302 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-022-00404-7

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