Prognostic implications of human papillomavirus status and p16 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Head Neck. 2019 Dec;41(12):4151-4163. doi: 10.1002/hed.25961. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate significance of HPV16 DNA/p16 for survival of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Methods: HPV16 DNA and p16 status in 812 LSCC patients were determined. The survival was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox model.

Results: Compared with HPV negativity, adjusted HRs for HPV16 positivity were 0.57, 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.87; 0.60, 0.40 to 0.88; and 0.65, 0.46 to 0.94 for disease-specific survival (DSS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS), respectively. Additionally, for p16 expression, aHRs were 0.68, 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.96; 0.72, 0.52 to 0.98; and 0.73, 0.54 to 0.99 for DSS, RFS, and OS, respectively. Finally, for combined analysis, patients with both HPV16-positivity/p16-positivity had much better prognosis than those with either negativity. Such above survivals are more significantly better in never smokers.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HPV16/p16 may affect survival outcomes of LSCC patients, particularly in never smokers.

Keywords: human papillomavirus; laryngeal neoplasms; p16; prognosis; squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / metabolism*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Female
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CDKN2A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA, Viral