Detection of mutation-specific epidermal growth factor receptor (E746–A750del) and lack of detection of human papillomavirus in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract The clinical impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (E746–A750del) mutation and human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unclear. EGFR (E746–A750del) expression was analyzed in OSCC specimens ( n = 161) by immunohistochemistry. The expression results were correlated with clinical characteristics and impact on survival. Using INNO-LiPA Extra, high-risk HPV types were genotyped and analyzed in 211 OSCC specimens. Positive EGFR (E746–A750del) expression ( n = 40/161, 25%) was not associated with any clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors, social habits (smoking, alcohol consumption), or tumour-specific survival. HPV16 DNA was detected in three out of 211 samples (HPV16-positive: n = 3/211, 1.4%). This study shows that mutation-specific EGFR (E746–A750del) expression and HPV do not appear to be relevant to the survival of patients with OSCC.