Characterization of High-Risk Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Histologically Confirmed Ear, Nose and Throat (Ent) Cancers in Burkina Faso

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV-HR) infections are responsible for 99.99% of cervico-uterine cancers and 50% of carcinomas of the oropharynx. OBJECTIVE: To characterize high-risk HPV genotypes (HPV-HR) in histologically confirmed ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancers in Ouagadougou. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight archived tissues from the ENT sphere, obtained over the last ten years (2007 to 2017) and histologically diagnosed in anatomy and pathology-cytology laboratories in Ouagadougou were included. These tissues were dewaxed with xylene; HPV DNA extraction was performed and HPV-HR were researched by real-time multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Among the fourteen HPV-HR genotypes tested for, seven were identified. The prevalence of HPV-HR infection was 15.6%. The most common genotypes were: HPV56 (45%) and HPV33 (20%). Squamous cell carcinomas accounted for 75% of cases, followed by lymphomas for 10%. The age range was between 5 and 80 years. CONCLUSION: The results show the involvement of a diversity of HPV-HR genotypes and a high frequency of HPV56 and HPV33 in ENT cancers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The appropriate HPV vaccination will considerably reduce the number of these cancers.