p16 and p53 expression status in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a correlation with histological, histoprognostic and clinical parameters

SummaryDifferent histopathology and prognosis characterise the human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal tumours, but squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of other localisations have not been exhaustively studied.Tissues from 120 patients with a head and neck SCC were studied for the expression of p16 and p53, and the Brandwein–Gensler (BG) histological risk assessment model.p16 positivity and p53 normal expression were significantly correlated with non-smoking, an earlier T stage and a non-keratinising morphology. The BG risk score was not associated with p16 or p53 expression; p16 expression was associated with a lymphocytic T-cytotoxic response. BG risk score was significantly correlated with overall survival and progression-free survival, while neither p16 nor p53 expression were associated with prognosis.p16 and p53 expression are associated with the histological subtype and the T stage even in non-oropharyngeal-restricted tumours. The BG risk score is not correlated with p16 or p53 and retains its power in non-site-specific SCCs.