Laryngeal <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection and Laryngeal Cancer-Case Series and a Systematic Review

• Main Authors: Li-Jen Hsin, Hai-Hua Chuang, Mu-Yun Lin, Tuan-Jen Fang, Hsueh-Yu Li, Chun-Ta Liao, Chung-Jan Kang, Tse-Ching Chen, Chung-Guei Huang, Tzu-Chen Yen, Li-Ang Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>; laryngeal cancer; laryngopharyngeal reflux; <i>CD1d</i>; <i>E-cadherin</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1129

<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection involves the development of gastric cancer and may be associated with laryngeal cancer. However, laryngeal <i>H. pylori</i> infection in Taiwanese patients with newly diagnosed laryngeal cancer has not been reported. This study was aimed to investigate the possible association between laryngeal <i>H. pylori</i> infection and laryngeal cancer in Taiwan and perform a systematic review of previous reports in other countries. An analysis of 105 patients with laryngeal lesions found the positive rates of <i>H. pylori</i> DNA (determined by polymerase chain reaction) and antigen (determined by immunohistochemistry) of the laryngeal lesions were relatively low (vocal polyps: 3% and 3%; vocal fold leukoplakia: 0% and 0%; laryngeal cancers: 0% and 2%). Furthermore, <i>H. pylori</i>-associated laryngopharyngeal reflux and the expression of <i>E-cadherin</i> and <i>CD1d</i> (determined by immunohistochemistry) were comparable among the three subgroups. Fifteen studies were involved in the systematic review of the digital literature database, distributed to February 2021. The data of patients with laryngeal cancer and controls showed that the laryngeal <i>H. pylori</i> infection rates were 29.4% and 16.7%, respectively. Although current evidence supported that laryngeal <i>H. pylori</i> infection was associated with laryngeal cancer globally, it might not play a role in the development of laryngeal cancer in Taiwan.