Prevalence of p16 expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tumors in a cohort of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) at a single center in southern Brazil and determine the short-term prognostic factors in this sample. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-one consecutive patients with newly diagnosed primary OPSCC between January 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively included. Demographic, clinical, pathologic, and survival data were collected. HPV status was determined by using p16 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HPV-positive (HPV+) OPSCC was 20.9%. Patients with HPV+ tumors presented a nodal metastasis as the first clinical sign (P = .02); reported less alcohol (P < .001) and tobacco use (P < .001); exhibited lower tumor stages (P < .001) and higher microscopic grades (P = .01); and had higher chances of having resectable tumors (P = .008). p16-negative status (P = .01); unresectable/inoperable tumors (P < .001); presence of nodal metastasis (P = .005); and higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (P = .002) were significantly associated with worse disease-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HPV+ OPSCC in southern Brazil is relatively low, and p16-positive status was associated with Better prognosis. Higher AJCC stage, nodal metastasis, and unresectability/inoperability were associated with the highest hazard ratios for death resulting from OPSCC.