Prognostic Indicators in p16-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Prognostic Value of p16 Status

• The prognostic value of p16 has been validated specifically and exclusively in oropharyngeal SCC, with no demonstrated prognostic benefit in laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, or oral cavity tumors, as reported by the Annals of Oncology 1, 2

Diagnostic Considerations

• 10-15% of p16-positive OPSCC are false positives (p16+/HPV-), and these patients have outcomes equivalent to p16-negative disease, according to the Annals of Oncology 1, 2
• Consider confirmatory HPV testing (DNA ISH, PCR, or E6/E7 mRNA) in neck metastases of unknown origin that are p16-positive, as suggested by the Annals of Oncology 2 and the Journal of Clinical Oncology 3, 4