Frequent HPV-independent p16/INK4A overexpression in head and neck cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV), in particular the HPV16 subtype, represents a major independent risk factor for oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPSCC), a group of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCC) affecting the tonsils and base of tongue [1 –3]. This is a rapidly evolving cancer in the Western world, with rising trends particularly in the young [4,5]. The most commonly used biomarker for HPV (+) HNSCC in the clinical setting at present is p16INK4A (p16), encoded by the CDKN2A gene (cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor 2A).
Source: Oral Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research