Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in people living with HIV in France

•Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), mainly due to smoking, is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths.•Oropharynx carcinoma is potentially an HPV-related HNSCC in HIV-infected individuals.•The prevalence of oropharynx carcinoma in HIV-infected individuals increased over time.•The role of HPV in HIV-infected individuals presenting with HNSCC should be investigated. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), mainly due to smoking, is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. However, an increasing number of tumors – especially oropharyngeal cancer – are reported in non-smokers in association with the human papillomavirus (HPV). As HIV-infected individuals are particularly at risk of HPV-related disease, we aimed to describe the burden of HNSCC in this population. Retrospective chart review of patients from HIV clinics diagnosed with HNSCC between 2004 and 2014. Case patients were defined using the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (3rd edition). Age at HIV diagnosis and time from HIV diagnosis to HNSCC diagnosis were collected. Oropharyngeal cancers were considered as potentially HPV-related cancers, and their prevalence was compared with other HNSCCs over time. The 286 patients enrolled in the study had a median age at HNSCC diagnosis of 52 years; 84% were males and 68% had a history of smoking. The oropharynx was the most frequent site (41%), followed by cancer of the oral cavity (31%), larynx (22%), and hypopharynx (7%). The prevalence (and proportion) of potentially HPV-related cancers increased significantly over time with a mean of 0.78 additional case patient per year. The prevalence of HNSCC is modest compared with other cancers in HIV-infected individuals. The prevalence of oropharynx carcinoma, a potentially HPV-related carcinoma, seems to increase over time. Even if tobacco may be an important contributor, the role of HPV in HIV-infected individuals presenting with HNSCC should be investigated. Les carcinomes épidermoïdes de la sphère ORL, principalement liés au tabac, peuvent survenir chez des non-fumeurs avec implication du papillomavirus (HPV), notamment pour les formes oropharyngées. Comme les personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH) sont particulièrement exposées au HPV, notre objectif était de décrire les différentes formes de cancer ORL dans cette population. Étude rétrospective réalisée dans les centres prenant en charge les PVVIH en France et pour qui un cancer ORL a été diagnostiqué entre 2004 et 2014.