Background/Objectives:Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (NHSCC) is a significant global health burden, with human papillomavirus (HPV) recognized as a major etiological factor in a growing proportion of cases. The interaction between HPV status, tumor characteristics, and other risk factors remains an important focus for both prevention and clinical management. This study aimed to investigate the association between HPV and OPSCC in a Bulgarian cohort, with emphasis on the influence of behavioral and clinical factors, as well as basic tumor features.Methods:Eighty-nine participants were enrolled, including 50 patients with histologically confirmed NHSCC and 39 healthy controls. Clinical examinations and histopathological verification were conducted for all cases. Brush smear and oral rinse samples were collected for HPV testing, in line with molecular detection protocols, specifically PCR-based assays for viral DNA. Demographic data, behavioral risk factors, and information on concomitant diseases were obtained and analyzed in relation to HPV status.Results:Differences were identified between HPV-positive and HPV-negative NHSCC cases in relation to tumor characteristics, including clinical presentation and histological differentiation. Additional analyses demonstrated associations between certain behavioral factors, comorbidities, and the risk of NHSCC.Conclusions:This study provides data on HPV prevalence, related tumor features, and associated risk factors in OPSCC within a Bulgarian population. These findings highlight descriptive trends related to HPV status but indicate no robust statistical associations in this cohort.
背景/目的：头颈部鳞状细胞癌（NHSCC）是全球重要的健康负担，人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）被确认为日益增多的病例中的主要病因。HPV状态、肿瘤特征及其他风险因素之间的相互作用，仍是预防和临床管理的重要关注点。本研究旨在探讨保加利亚人群中HPV与口咽鳞状细胞癌（OPSCC）的关联，重点关注行为与临床因素以及基本肿瘤特征的影响。 方法：研究共纳入89名参与者，包括50例经组织学确诊的NHSCC患者和39名健康对照者。对所有病例进行了临床检查和组织病理学验证。按照分子检测方案（特别是基于PCR的病毒DNA检测）收集刷拭涂片和口腔漱洗样本进行HPV检测。收集并分析了人口统计学数据、行为风险因素及合并症信息，并将其与HPV状态进行关联分析。 结果：在HPV阳性和HPV阴性的NHSCC病例之间，发现了肿瘤特征（包括临床表现和组织学分化）的差异。进一步分析显示，某些行为因素、合并症与NHSCC风险之间存在关联。 结论：本研究提供了保加利亚人群中OPSCC的HPV流行率、相关肿瘤特征及关联风险因素的数据。这些发现揭示了与HPV状态相关的描述性趋势，但表明在该队列中未发现具有统计学稳健性的关联。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家