Evaluation of p16 in oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent. The etiological factors are smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. HPV infects basal epithelial cells through abrasion or minor trauma. Tumorigenesis is caused by HPV E6 and E7 proteins which decrease levels of p53 and Rb tumor suppressor proteins leading to aberrant overexpression of cell cycle protein p16.

METHOD: This is a prospective, correlational cross-sectional study carried out on 46 cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma during the period of June 2021 to May 2022, at the Department of Pathology, Bir hospital and National Path Labs, Maharajgunj. The surgical biopsy cases were subjected to H&E staining and P16 immunohistochemistry.

RESULT: Total 46 cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled in this study. The most common carcinoma was squamous cell carcinoma with a common age group between 41 to 60 years of age showing male predominance. Tongue was the most common site. Out of 46 cases, 34 cases were P16 positive and 12 were P16 negative. The correlation between the P16 immunohistochemistry and squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharynx was significant (p<0.005).

CONCLUSION: There is a good correlation between P16 immunohistochemistry and squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and oropharynx and hence P16 can be used as a surrogate marker.