Nutritional characterization of patients with oropharyngeal cancers: impact of human papillomavirus status

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive status is increasing relative to HPV-negative disease. Nutritional features of OPSCC patients according to HPV status is unclear.

Canadian and Spanish patients with OPSCC were assessed for body mass index (BMI), weight loss grade (WLG), and computed tomography-defined skeletal muscle index (SMI). Chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney-U, Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to compare HPV positive and negative groups. Overall survival (OS) was assessed by univariable Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard methods.

No differences in BMI, WLG, SMI, and adipose tissue index between the 308 (Canada) and 134 (Spain) patients according to HPV status; hence cohorts were pooled (n = 442). HPV-positive patients (n = 317) were overweight/obese (72.8%), had WLG of 0/1 (59.6%) and high SMI (83.4%) while HPV-negative patients were normal/underweight (61.5%), had high WLG 3/4 (50.8%), and moderate/severe SMI depletion (46.9%) (p < 0.003). These overall differences notwithstanding, there was crossover i.e. 35% of HPV-positive patients had high WLG and/or moderate/severe muscle depletion and 29% of HPV-negative patients had minimal weight loss and high SMI. HPV-negative patients had a higher risk of mortality (HR 3.78, 95% CI 2.70–5.29, P < 0.001) and this difference was retained after multivariable adjustment for WLG, SMI, age, disease stage, and planned treatment (HR 3.30, 95% CI 2.17–5.02, P < 0.001).

Nutrition features of patients with OPSCC did not differ between Canada and Spain. Distinctive nutrition features exist in patients according to HPV status. The high heterogeneity of individual nutritional profiles invites an individualized approach to nutrition care.