FREQUENCY OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS IN OROPHARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA IN PATIENTS PRESENTING AT SKMCH PESHAWAR

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is an increasingly recognized malignancy with a growing association to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. While HPV-positive OPSCC cases are widely documented in Western populations, regional data, particularly from Pakistan, remain limited. Understanding local HPV prevalence is crucial for guiding preventive strategies, including vaccination and risk-based screening, especially in settings where sociocultural and environmental factors may influence disease presentation and progression. Objective: To determine the frequency of human papillomavirus in patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma presenting at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Peshawar. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 03 November 2024 to 03 May 2025 and enrolled 89 patients aged between 40 and 80 years with histopathologically confirmed OPSCC. Patients with recurrent head and neck cancers, immunocompromised status, or coexisting malignancies were excluded. Clinical evaluation included detailed history-taking, ECOG performance status assessment, and radiological imaging (CT and/or MRI) to determine tumor staging. Histopathological confirmation was achieved through biopsy or FNAC, and DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays were used for qualitative HPV-DNA detection. Results: The mean age of participants was 53.38 ± 11.52 years, with 52 (58.4%) males and 37 (41.6%) females. HPV was detected in 14 patients, yielding a frequency of 15.7%. Advanced disease was prevalent, with 40 patients (44.9%) at stage III and 20 patients (22.5%) at stage IV. Tobacco use was observed in 12 (13.5%), alcohol in 5 (5.6%), and betel nut chewing in 10 (11.2%) cases.