Risk factors and prevalence of human papillomavirus-related secondary oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in patients following allogeneic stem cell transplant for hematological malignancies

Objective

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants are associated with a greater susceptibility to secondary malignancies. The present study examines the prevalence and risk factors of developing secondary oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

Material and methods

This was a chart review of 286 allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients treated at a large Health Center, with a mean follow-up time of 5 years. The eligibility included adults who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants between October 2016 and June 2021.

Results

Two hundred eighty-six charts were reviewed of them: leukemia (65%), aplastic anemia (10%), and lymphoma (9%). 57 (20%) developed secondary cancers Five cases of the secondary cancers (8.8%) were oral squamous cell carcinoma, and three were human papillomavirus-related. Graft versus host disease occurred in 77.1% and 100% of oral/oropharyngeal cancers. About 50% across the groups had a history of smoking. graft versus host disease, immunosuppression, and smoking. The risk factors for secondary oral/oropharyngeal cancer; chronic graft versus host disease, immunosuppression, and smoking were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

These findings support the recommendation for increased follow-up time and close monitoring of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients for secondary oral/oropharyngeal malignancies. The involvement of the human papillomavirus in these cases should be further investigated.