The Relationship Between Human Papillomavirus, OFD1 and Primary Ciliogenesis in the Progression of Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been indicated to be a important risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Primary ciliogenesis defects contribute to tumorigenesis, and OFD1 at centriolar satellites is a crucial suppressor of primary ciliogenesis. To identify novel markers associated with HPV-induced carcinogenesis, the interactions between HPV infection and primary ciliogenesis in the tumorigenesis and progression of OPSCC were investigated in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 1530 OPSCC patients recruited in this research were treated from 2000 to 2017. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were performed on tissue samples to compare the expression of p16, TSLP, TGFβ1, IFNγ, OFD1, and their relationship with clinical characteristics of patients. RESULTS: We speculate that the positive expression of p16 is related to early primary OPSCC, and the survival rate of p16 positive patients after radiotherapy and surgery is higher. Expression of TSLP on dendritic cells in HPV-positive OPSCC correlated with the expression of OFD1. HPV-positive OPSCC showed increased expression of OFD1 combined with reduced ciliogenesis. Hence, TSLP induced by HPV infection may reduce the invasive potential of OPSCC cells by promoting OFD1 expression, thereby inhibiting primary ciliogenesis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that HPV may be related to the progression of OPSCC by regulating OFD1 expression and primary ciliogenesis, making this protein a potential therapeutic target.