P16.sup.INK4a expression in patients with penile cancer

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is reported to be present in 30-50% of penile cancer cases. The immunohistochemical test for p16.sup.INK4a is used as an indicator of the presence of HPV and as a prognostic marker for squamous cell carcinomas in various sites. However, the role of this marker in penile carcinoma has not yet been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the expression of p16.sup.INK4a is associated with the presence of HPV, histological parameters, and survival in penile cancer. A study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 that included 55 patients with penile carcinoma. HPV DNA was detected through PCR using fresh tumor tissue, and immunohistochemistry was performed for analysis of p16.sup.INK4a protein using paraffin-embedded tissue. Evaluation of histological parameters was performed following complete embedding of the tumor tissue in paraffin. HPV DNA (low-risk and high-risk genotypes) was found in 49 (89.1%) cases, and 46/49 (93.9%) showed high-oncogenic risk HPV (HR-HPV). Of the 22 cases positive for p16.sup.INK4a, HR-HPV DNA was present in 21 (95.5%) (p = 0.032). Regarding histological parameters, p16.sup.INK4a and HR-HPV were significantly associated only with tumor subtype (p = 0.036 and p = 0.032, respectively); all carcinomas with basaloid characteristics were positive for p16.sup.INK4a . Although HPV+ patients had a higher disease-free survival (p