Survival and human papillomavirus in oropharynx cancer in TAX 324: a subset analysis from an international phase III trial

The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and overall survival (OS) in oropharynx cancer (OPC) was retrospectively examined in TAX 324, a phase III trial of sequential therapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Accrual for TAX 324 was completed in 2003 and data updated through 2008. Pretherapy tumor biopsies were studied by PCR for human papillomavirus type 16 and linked to OS, progression-free survival (PFS) and demographics. Of 264 patients with OPC, 111 (42%) had evaluable biopsies; 56 (50%) were HPV+ and 55 (50%) were HPV-. HPV+ patients were significantly younger (54 versus 58 years, P=0.02), had T1/T2 primary cancers (49% versus 20%, P=0.001), and had a performance status of zero (77% versus 49%, P=0.003). OS and PFS were better for HPV+ patients (OS, hazard ratio=0.20, P