Selected miRNAs in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) with HPV and EBV coinfection

Different levels of miR-625-5p, miR-31-5p and miR-5100 have been reported in many cancers. Viral infections have been linked to miRNA levels in tumors, including those in the head and neck, but a large proportion of studies only include infections with a single virus. The aim of the present study is to assess the level of miR-625-5p, 31-5p and 5100 in oropharyngeal cancer with single HPV and EBV infections and HPV/EBV co-infection. The study examined 128 oropharyngeal cancer patients infected with EBV and HPV alone or co-infected with both viruses. For the determination of miRNAs, the enzyme immunoassays was used. Both miR-625-5p and miR-31-5p were higher in the HPV/EBV co-infection than in the single infection HPV or EBV. However, in the case of miR-5100, the values in co-infection were lower than in a single EBV infection. The analysis of miRNAs in relation to the histological grade and tumor classification, nodes (TN) showed that in poorly differentiated tumors the level of the studied miRNAs was higher compared to well-differentiated lesions, and in cases with larger tumor sizes and lymph node involvement, the miRNA values were both higher in single infections and co-infections.