ABSTRACT
By the start of the 2000s, it was clear that human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) was a distinct entity in terms of aetiology, molecular biology, and clinicopathological presentation when compared to non-HPV-related OPSCC. HPV tumour status determination was a post hoc analysis and was restricted to those patients with tumours arising within the oropharynx. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour specimens were assessed for evidence of viral DNA presence (HPV DNA in situ hybridisation, or ISH) and importantly also cellular response to viral oncogene expression through analysis of p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC). HPV status was determined for 323/422 OPSCC within the trial. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological or survival outcomes between cases with tumour available for HPV status determination and those for which it was not. Smoking was also an independent determinant of outcome (OS and PFS) in both HPV-positive and -negative OPSCC.
