Impact of p16-overexpression on overall and progression-free survival outcomes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas: A semi-national, population-based study

Katrine Schneider; Kathrine K Jakobsen; Jakob S Jensen; Irene Wessel; Anders Christensen; Lena Specht; Giedrius Lelkaitis; Christian Mirian; Christian V Buchwald; Christian Grønhøj

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105031

Impact of p16-overexpression on overall and progression-free survival outcomes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas: A semi-national, population-based study

Oral Oncol. 2020 Dec:111:105031. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105031. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Katrine.schneider@regionh.dk.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: christian.groenhoej@regionh.dk.

PMID: 33069060
DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105031

Abstract

Objectives: Human papillomavirus infection and p16-overexpression is a principal cause and favorable prognostic factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas but the value as prognostic marker in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) is undetermined.

Materials and methods: All patients diagnosed with OSCC in Eastern Denmark in the period 2008-2014 were enrolled. Survival estimates were evaluated as overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariate Cox-regression analyses.

Results: We included 575 patients from which 13% (n = 69) had p16-positive tumors. The 5-year OS were 55% and 62% for the p16-negative and p16-positive patients, respectively, and the 5-year PFS were 48% and 50%. In a multivariate survival analysis, p16-positivity showed no significant influence on OS (HR: 1.06 [0.67-1.70], p = 0.79) and PFS (HR: 1.11 [0.76-1.63], p = 0.58).

Conclusion: In this population-based cohort of non-selected OSCC patients, we found no difference in survival outcomes when stratified on p16-overexpression status.

Keywords: Human papillomavirus; Oral cancer; Oral cavity cancer; P16; Prognostic biomarker.

MeSH terms

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / metabolism*
Denmark
Female
Genes, p16*
Humans
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms / genetics
Mouth Neoplasms / metabolism*
Mouth Neoplasms / mortality
Mouth Neoplasms / virology
Papillomaviridae
Prognosis
Progression-Free Survival*
Regression Analysis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / metabolism*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / mortality
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / virology

Substances

CDKN2A protein, human
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16