title: High-risk HPV DNA status and p16 (INK4a) expression as prognostic markers in patients with squamous cell cancer of oral cavity and oropharynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine and compare the influence of the HPV DNA status and p16(INK4a) expression on the outcome of postoperative radiotherapy for squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  59 patients with high-risk squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx were enrolled. They underwent major surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. The HPV DNA status and p16(INK4a) expression were assessed with QPCR and immunohistochemistry and correlated with loco-regional control and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15.3% of tissue samples were HPV positive. All positive patients were identified with HPV16 subtype infection, and no other subtypes of high-risk HPV were detected. 5-year LRC in HPV(+) patients was 100%, compared to 50% in the HPV(-) group. 17.9% of all samples had evident p16(INK4a) expression. Among HPV(+) cases, 55.6% showed p16(INK4a) expression. 5-year LRC in patients with p16(INK4a) expression was 89%, compared to 51% in the p16(INK4a) negative group but this tendency was not significant (p = 0.055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show that the HPV status is a good predictor of loco-regional control and overall survival in patients treated with radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. The study shows a strong correlation between high-risk HPV infection and p16(INK4a) expression, but detection of viral DNA with QPCR has stronger prognostic potential.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Pathology Department, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Poland. mirek@snietura.net
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Śnietura
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pigłowski
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goraj-Zając
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Woźniak
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004279:DNA, Viral