THE EVALUATION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS STATUS IN OROPHARYNGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA USING P16 IMMUNOEXPRESSION: A DESCRIPTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AT TERTIARY CARE CENTRE, JAIPUR (RAJASTHAN)

Background and Objectives: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) patients with human papilloma virus (HPV) infected tumours have more favorable prognosis, however data is very sparse in Indian literature. Our study aims to assess the HPV status in patients with OPSCC in our institution, to evaluate the diagnostic utility and prognostic signicance, so that it can be utilized to guide the patient management. Methods: One hundred OPSCC cases were included in this study and analyzed for age, gender, habits, site, symptoms, histologic type, treatment, survival at the end of study. All tissue samples were subjected to p16 Immunohistochemistry. Out of 100 cases 3 were found p16 positive. Signicant Results: difference was noted between the study variables among p16 positive and negative cases. Neck mass (58%) was the most common presenting symptom of OPSCC. All P16 positive cases were male patients and had median age of 48 years, presented with neck mass. History of smoking was present in one out of three HPV positive cases. P16 positivity is commonly seen with basaloid type of squamous cell carcinoma at tonsil followed by tongue. Results of this study provided evidence supporting p16 positive cases in younger age Interpretation and Conclusion: with less tobacco, alcohol, smoking habits. Neck mass was the initial presenting symptom. p16- negative cases had median age of 60 years with more frequent history of tobacco, alcohol and smoke use.