Research PaperHead and Neck OncologyDetection of mutation-specific epidermal growth factor receptor (E746-A750del) and lack of detection of human papillomavirus in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The clinical impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (E746-A750del) mutation and human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unclear. EGFR (E746-A750del) expression was analyzed in OSCC specimens (n = 161) by immunohistochemistry. The expression results were correlated with clinical characteristics and impact on survival. Using INNO-LiPA Extra, high-risk HPV types were genotyped and analyzed in 211 OSCC specimens. Positive EGFR (E746-A750del) expression (n = 40/161, 25%) was not associated with any clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors, social habits (smoking, alcohol consumption), or tumour-specific survival. HPV16 DNA was detected in three out of 211 samples (HPV16-positive: n = 3/211, 1.4%). This study shows that mutation-specific EGFR (E746-A750del) expression and HPV do not appear to be relevant to the survival of patients with OSCC.