The SPLIT study aims to understand the natural history of HPV infection in the tonsils.
Since 2012, tonsils from children and adults non-cancer patients are being collected in 20 centres in France. For each patient, half of the resected tonsils are extensively brushed to collect exfoliated cells for detection of HPV and other potential oncogenic viruses and cytologic examination. A subset of 11 centers are also collecting rinse/gargling samples before tonsillectomy.
To date close to 700 targeted patients have been included. Preliminary findings from the first batches of samples include the following: HR-HPV DNA was detected in 9 out of 500 tonsil brushing (of which four HPV16) and in 28 out of 209 gargles (of which 19 HR-HPV including 10 HPV16). Among 154 patients with both gargle and brushing specimens tested, out of 23 patients HPV-positive in gargle, only three were also positive for the same HPV type in tonsil brushing.
Preliminary results suggest that HPV is rarely detected in tonsil tissue, although more frequently detected in gargles. HPV testing of oral cells through gargling may be therefore an interesting epidemiological tool but it is little representative of the presence of HPV infection in the head and neck site most prone to HPV carcinogenesis. Final results of HPV infection and cytology will be presented.