Conclusions
p16- and HPV-status should not be considered as equivalent markers for a better prognosis. Furthermore, they should not generally predominate patient associated factors like smoking.
Methods
102 patients with advanced stage OPSCCs treated primarily by transoral lasermicrosurgery were included. Prognostic associations of p16- and HPV-status were analyzed separately and combined.
Purpose
p16 overexpression was considered as surrogate marker to identify human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCCs).
Results
In contrast to p16, the HPV-status resulted in no significant survival discrepancies (5-year overall survival (OS) HPV-positive 64.9%, HPV-negative 78.7%). Combining both markers, p16-positive (p16-positive/HPV-positive, p16-positive/HPV-negative) and p16-negative/HPV-negative groups demonstrated comparable high survival (OS 78.1% vs. 85.6% vs. 73.6%). Lowest survival was observed for patients with p16-negative/HPV-positive OPSCCs (OS 40.8%). Never smoking patients with p16-positive OPSCCs demonstrated the highest survival, whereas within former/current smokers with p16-positive and p16-negative disease it was comparable low (OS 90.0% vs. 63.0% vs. 57.4%). Conclusions: p16- and HPV-status should not be considered as equivalent markers for a better prognosis. Furthermore, they should not generally predominate patient associated factors like smoking.