The value of p16 and HPV DNA in non-tonsillar, non-base of tongue oropharyngeal cancer
Lalle Hammarstedt‐Nordenvall, Stefan Holzhauser, Mark Zupancic, Fani Kapoulitsa, Ramona Gabriela Ursu, Torbjörn Ramqvist, Linnea Haeggblom, Anders Näsman, Tina Dalianis, Linda Marklund
Abstract
Background Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is dominated by tonsillar and tongue base carcinomas (TSCC/BOTSCC), but there are carcinomas at other sites, such as uvula/soft palate/pharyngeal wall here defined as other OPSCC. Human papillomavirus (HPV) positive TSCC/BOTSCC have favorable outcome, and the TNM-classification separates OPSCC into HPV mediated (p16INK4a overexpressing, p16+) and HPV unrelated OPSCC (p16INK4a non-overexpressing, p16-) cancer, but the prognostic role of p16+ in other OPSCC is unclear.Aims/Objectives This study therefore aimed to further investigate the prognostic role of p16+, presence of HPV DNA, or both combined in other OPSCC.Material and methods 195 other OPSCC, from patients diagnosed 2000–2018 were tested for p16, and/or presence of HPV DNA and the data correlated to outcome.Results Neither overall survival, nor disease free survival correlated to presence of p16+ or HPV DNA in other OPSCC. p16+ and HPV DNA presence were correlated (p < .0001), but the sensitivity of p16 as a surrogate marker for presence of HPV DNA was low (49%).Conclusions and significance The data suggest that p16+ (and p16+/HPV DNA) positive other OPSCC should be analyzed cautiously and possibly separately from the HPV mediated OPSCC staging group.