Frequency and prognostic significance of p16(INK4A) protein overexpression and transcriptionally active human papillomavirus infection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a powerful prognostic biomarker in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, specifically oropharyngeal cancers. However, the role of HPV in non-oropharyngeal sites, such as the larynx, remains unconfirmed. We evaluated a cohort of 324 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients for the expression of p16(INK4A) (p16) protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and for high-risk HPV E6 and E7 mRNA transcripts by RNA in situ hybridisation (ISH). p16 expression and HPV status were correlated with clinicopathological features and outcomes. Of 307 patients assessable for p16 IHC, 20 (6.5%) were p16 positive. Females and node-positive patients were more likely to be p16 positive (P