Surrogate marker P16 in oral / oropharyngeal carcinoma

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) positive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has unique tumor biology, risk factor profile, clinical and demographic character and outcome. The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinicodemographic characteristics, prevalence of HPV infection, P16 status. Patients with HPV containing oral/ oropharyngeal carcinoma have better prognosis than patients with HPV negative SCC. Materials and methods: This prospective study that spanned one year, included 100 patients with oral/oropharyngeal cancers are selected randomly from both inpatient and outpatient sections. Biopsy done, then paraffin blocks were used for detection of P16 by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Statistically significant overall positivity for Surrogate marker P16 was 66%. HPV 16 Positive subjects had different characteristic symptom, neck mass as initial symptom unlike HPV 16 negative patients had Odynophagia, dysphagia or visualized mass were common presenting symptoms. P16 positivity was 91.3% in Oropharyngeal SCC and 58.4% in Oral cavity. Conclusion: HPV associated head and neck cancer has been in increasing trend in past two decades. Most of the HPV16 Positive individuals are young, sexually active, non-smoker and non-alcoholic. This study shows P16 can be used as surrogate marker for Oropharynx SCC predominantly. Neck mass is the most common symptom in P16 positive patients.