p16 expression is of prognostic and predictive value in oropharyngeal cancers independent of human papillomavirus status: a Hungarian study.

Head and neck cancer treatment protocols still lack well-established biomarkers of prognostic and predictive value. It is well known that human papillomavirus (HPV)-related and non-HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers are distinct entities concerning tumor biology and clinical outcome. However, there is an ongoing debate whether tumor suppressor p16 status alone or both p16 and HPV detection should be used in clinical settings.