Human Papillomavirus and Prognosis of Invasive Cervical Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) type and prognosis of patients with invasive cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB to IV cervical cancer between 1986 and 1997 while residents of three Washington State counties were included (n = 399). HPV typing was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissue using polymerase chain reaction methods. Patients were observed for a median of 50.8 months. Total mortality (TM) and cervical cancer–specific mortality (CCSM) were determined. Hazards ratios (HR) adjusted for age, stage, and histologic type were estimated using multivariable models. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients had HPV 18–related tumors and 210 patients had HPV 16–related tumors. Cumulative TM among patients with HPV 18–related tumors and among patients with HPV 16–related tumors were 33.7% and 27.6%, respectively; cumulative CCSM in these two groups were 26.7% and 18.1%, respectively. Compared with patients with HPV 16–related cancers, patients with HPV 18–related cancers were at increased risk for TM (HR_TM, 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 3.6) and CCSM (HR_CCSM, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.4 to 4.4). The HPV18 associations were strongest for patients with FIGO stage IB or IIA disease (HR_TM, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.3 to 4.2; and HR_CCSM, 5.8; 95% CI, 3.9 to 8.7), whereas no associations were observed among patients with FIGO stage IIB to IV disease. Virtually identical associations were found in the subset of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (n = 219). CONCLUSION: HPV 18–related cervical carcinomas, particularly those diagnosed at an early stage, are associated with a poor prognosis. Elucidating the mechanism or mechanisms underlying this association could lead to new treatment approaches for patients with invasive cervical carcinoma.