Relation between Human Papillomavirus Positivity and p16 Expression in Head and Neck Carcinomas - A Tissue Microarray Study

Overexpression of p16 has been demonstrated to be strongly related to the presence of HPV16,18. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has been shown to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HPV presence and p16 expression in a representative collection of 60 head and neck carcinomas by tissue microarrays. The presence of HPV (HPV6,11-low risk, HPV16,18-high risk) was detected by applying in situ hybridisation. P-16 protein expression was detected imuunohistochemically. HPV6,11 positivity was observed in 10 out of 60 carcinomas. HPV16,18 presence was found in 30 out of 60 tumours. P-16 expression was detected in 35 out of 60 tumours. A statistically significant relationship was demonstrated between HPV16,18 presence and increased expression of p16. Also the HPV6,11 presence was significantly correlated with p16 immunoreactivity. Additionally, this study demonstrates that it is possible to analyse p16 expression and HPV presence by tissue microarrays.