p53 and p16 expression profiles in vulvar cancer: a translational analysis by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie Chemo and Radiotherapy in Epithelial Vulvar Cancer study group

p16 overexpression is associated with an improved prognosis while p53 positivity is linked to an adverse outcome. Our data support the hypothesis of a clinically relevant third subgroup of VSCC with a p53-/p16- phenotype showing an intermediate prognosis that needs to be further characterized.