Survival of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) in relation to TNM 8 – Risk of incorrect downstaging of HPV-mediated non-tonsillar, non-base of tongue carcinomas

TNM-8 staging separates oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) into human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated and -unrelated OPSCC based on p16INK4a overexpression (p16+), as surrogate marker for HPV. However, OPSCC is histologically and clinically heterogenous including tonsillar and base of tongue squamous cell carcinomas (TSCC and BOTSCC respectively), and carcinomas of soft palate and walls (otherOPSCC). The significance of HPV is established in TSCC/BOTSCC, while its role in otherOPSCC is unclear, which is not considered in TNM-8.

Source: European Journal of Cancer - September 16, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Linda Marklund, Stefan Holzhauser, Caroline de Flon, Mark Zupancic, David Landin, Aeneas Kolev, Linnea Haeggblom, Eva Munck-Wikland, Lalle Hammarstedt-Nordenvall, Tina Dalianis, Anders N äsman Tags: Original Research Source Type: research