title: p16 Expression as a Surrogate Marker for HPV Infection in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma can Predict Response to Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common cancer in the north east of India. The present study concerned the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the ESCC in north eastern India and its impact on response to chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  p16 expression, a surrogate marker for HPV infection was assessed in 101 pre-treatment biopsies of locally advanced ESCC, reported from a comprehensive cancer centre in north east India, using immunohistochemistry. All patients received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Response was assessed clinically and histopathologically with attention to p16 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  p16 was expressed in 22% of ESCC (22 out of 101) and was more prevalent in patients who were more than 45 years of age (P=0.048). p16 positive tumors appeared more commonly in the upper 2/3 of the thoracic esophagus (18 in 22). Nine of the 22 (41%) p16 positive tumors achieved pathologic complete response following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.008). There was a trend towards reduced mortality in this group (P=0.048). Some 9 of the 20 (45%) patients who achieved pathologic complete response were p16 positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of p16 in ESCC correlates with higher rate of pathologic complete remission in patients undergoing neo adjuvant chemotherapy and could be a predictive marker for response assessment.
authors.affiliation: Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Silchar, Assam, India E-mail : ravi.kannan@cacharcancerhospital.org.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Sankar Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Akalesh Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.forename: Monoj Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagh
authors.forename: H M Iqbal
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tapkire
authors.forename: Kali Pankaj
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: R Ravi
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kannan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000614131:CDKN2A protein, human; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins