Prognostic biomarkers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus‐positive disease with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background We examined the prognostic value of a panel of biomarkers in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (HIV‐positive head and neck cancer) and HIV negative (HIV‐negative head and neck cancer). Methods Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed using tumors from 41 disease site‐matched and age‐matched HIV‐positive head and neck cancer cases and 44 HIV‐negative head and neck cancer controls. Expression of tumor biomarkers was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlations examined with clinical variables. Results Expression levels of the studied oncogenic and inflammatory tumor biomarkers were not differentially regulated by HIV status. Among patients with HIV‐positive head and neck cancer, laryngeal disease site (P = .003) and Clavien‐Dindo classification IV (CD4) counts