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. 2024 Feb 26;16(5):945.
doi: 10.3390/cancers16050945.

A Retrospective Analysis from Western Romania Comparing the Treatment and Survivability of p16-Positive versus p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer

Alexandru Chioreanu  1 , Nicolae Constatin Balica  1   2   3 , Cristian Ion Mot  1   2 , Radmila Bugari  4 , Raluca Morar  1 , Flavia Baderca  5   6 , Teodora Daniela Marti  7   8 , Casiana Boru  7 , Cecilia Roberta Avram  9 , Sorin Dema  10 , Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu  11   12 , Delia Ioana Horhat  1   2
Affiliations

A Retrospective Analysis from Western Romania Comparing the Treatment and Survivability of p16-Positive versus p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer

Alexandru Chioreanu et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer is a global health concern due to its multifaceted nature. Recent molecular studies have linked p16 overexpression, associated with the human papillomavirus, to oropharyngeal cancer and its prognostic implications.

Materials and methods: This retrospective study in Western Romania examined 60 patients, categorizing them based on p16 biomarker status: 28 were p16 positive, and 32 were p16 negative. Statistical tests, including Fisher's exact and chi2, were used for analysis.

Results: Patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer exhibited a better prognosis (3-year survival, p = 0.0477; midtreatment, p = 0.0349) and reported lower alcohol (p = 0.0046) and tobacco (p < 0.0001) use.

Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of p16 testing in oropharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis. It suggests modifying treatment approaches based on p16 status and underscores the differing prognoses associated with p16-positive and p16-negative cases.

Keywords: HPV; oropharyngeal cell carcinoma; p16 overexpression; radiotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Results of the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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