Open AccessTreatment failure patterns are similar between p16− and p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas
Author(s) -
Hamill Chelsea S.,
Muller Richard Grant,
Clancy Kate,
Vu Brandon,
Gui Shanying,
Thuener Jason Eric,
Wasman Jay,
Li Shawn,
Fowler Nicole,
Rezaee Rod,
Lavertu Pierre,
Teknos Theodoros N.,
Pan Quintin,
O'Neill Wendi Quinn
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2378-8038
DOI - 10.1002/lio2.779
Subject(s) - medicine , oncology , multivariate analysis , overall survival , basal cell , disease , incidence (geometry) , optics , physics
Background The incidence of p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been increasing. The notion that p16+ OPSCC has a propensity for atypical and disseminating metastasis has gained traction. We compared treatment failure patterns in p16+ and p16− OPSCC and evaluated survival impact. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent/metastatic OPSCC disease between 1/2009 and 12/2019. Results Thirty‐eight p16+ and 36 p16− patients were identified. Three distinct failure patterns (distant vs. locoregional, atypical vs. typical, and disseminating vs. non‐disseminating) were studied. No significant differences were found between p16+ and p16− patients. Multivariate analysis showed p16 status was an independent prognostic biomarker; p16+ patients have a favorable overall survival compared to p16− patients (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.77; P = .005). Conclusions We challenge the view that p16+ OPSCC exhibits a distinctive treatment failure pattern and showed that p16 status impacts patient survival independent of disease progression.