C-reactive protein in HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancer
Recommended Citation
Johnson-obaseki S, Caulley L, Corsten M, et al. C-reactive Protein in HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(3):494-501. doi: 10.1177/0194599818800297.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharynx cancer as compared with HPV-negative oropharynx cancer and determine if CRP levels were associated with overall survival and/or recurrence-free survival.
STUDY DESIGN:
Prospective cohort study.
SETTING:
Tertiary care academic cancer center between 2007 and 2010.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS:
Among patients with oropharynx cancer and confirmed HPV status, plasma CRP levels were measured with a high-sensitivity ELISA kit. Multivariable logistic regression analysis compared 4 categories of CRP (low, moderate, high, very high) between the HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models were used to determine overall survival and recurrence-free survival by CRP level in both populations.
RESULTS:
Between 113 HPV-positive and 110 HPV-negative patients, CRP levels were significantly higher in the HPV-positive group, but these levels did not demonstrate a statistically significant dose-response trend. Higher CRP levels were also associated with reduced overall survival ( P = .016) and recurrence-free survival ( P < .001) within the HPV-negative group in univariable analysis; in multivariate analysis, the comparisons were not significantly different. Within HPV-positive oropharynx cancer, CRP levels were not significantly associated with overall survival or recurrence-free survival in univariable or multivariable analyses.
CONCLUSION:
Circulating CRP was higher in HPV-positive versus HPV-negative oropharynx cancer. Among HPV-negative patients, higher CRP levels were associated with reduced survival.
Document Type
Article
PubMed ID
30226795