Weinberger et al evaluated patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma based on molecular markers for human papillomavirus (HPV). The authors are from Yale University in New Haven.
Patient selection: oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Parameters:
(1) HPV-16 DNA by PCR
(2) expression of p16 by immunohistochemistry (IHC)
HPV-16 DNA by PCR |
p16 by IHC |
Class |
absent |
absent or weak |
Class I |
present |
absent or weak |
Class II |
present |
strong, diffuse (over-expressing) |
Class III |
where:
• There was one patient with no HPV-16 DNA by PCR but strong staining for p16 by IHC.
Class |
5-Year Local Recurrence |
5-Year Overall Survival |
Class I |
45% |
20% |
Class II |
74% |
18% |
Class III |
14% |
79% |
Class III tumors tend:
(1) to have a higher N-stage
(2) to be poorly differentiated
(3) to have higher HPV-16 viral load
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Otolaryngology