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. 2021 Mar;154(3):497-503.
doi: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_386_19.

Expression of p16INK4a in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from a tertiary cancer centre of South India: A preliminary study

Deepak Pandiar  1 , Sangeetha K Nayanar  2 , Sajith Babu  3 , Satheesh Babu  4
Affiliations

Expression of p16INK4a in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma from a tertiary cancer centre of South India: A preliminary study

Deepak Pandiar et al. Indian J Med Res. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Background & objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are found to be strongly associated with each other with an increase in incidence has been noted globally over the years. A literature search for data depicting the role of HPV in oropharyngeal carcinoma in South India, however, has resulted in little information, thus, the present study was aimed to assess a possible association between the two among OPSCC patients from a tertiary care cancer centre in South India.

Methods: One hundred and fourty three OPSCC cases were included in the study and analyzed for age, gender, marital status, habits, clinical TNM staging, site, laterality, symptoms, histological type (keratinizing and non-keratinizing), primary treatment and follow up period. All the cases were subjected to p16INK4a immunostaining. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software.

Results: Of the 143 cases 12 were found to be p16 positive with no significant difference between the study variables among p16 positive and negative cases. Base of the tongue was the most commonly involved site for the p16 positive cases. The p16 positive cases presented at an elderly age, early stage and were mainly the keratinizing type.

Interpretation & conclusions: The p16 positive OPSCC cases constituted a small proportion in the present study and behaved similar to p16 negative cases. Usage of tobacco and alcohol appear to be the susceptible factors even in p16 positive cases. More studies from other States would be helpful to determine if HPV-related SCC in the Indian subcontinent behave differently or similarly to cases from Western countries.

Keywords: HPV; Immunostaining; South India; keratinizing; oropharyngeal; p16; squamous cell carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Haematoxylin eosin (H&E) photomicrograph of non-keratinizing OPSCC (10x) and, (B) corresponding p16 positivity by IHC (x10); (C) H&E photomicrograph of keratinizing papillary OPSCC (x4) and, (D) corresponding p16 positivity by IHC (x4) (E) H&E photomicrograph of keratinizing OPSCC (x10) and (F) corresponding p16 positivity by IHC (x10). OPSCC, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparative distribution of chief complaints of p16 positive and negative patients (n=143).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparative distribution of sites affected by p16 positive and negative patients (n=143).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Kaplan–Meier curve for overall survival stratified by tumour p16 status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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