HPV testing versus p16 immunohistochemistry in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: results from the DAHANCA 19 study

Figures & data

Table 1. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics.

	All (n = 271)	p16-positive (n = 199)	p16-negative (n = 72)
Age  Years, median (IQR)	58 (53–63)	57 (52–63)	60 (55–64)
Gender
Male	222 (82%)	167 (84%)	55 (76%)
Female	49 (18%)	32 (16%)	17 (24%)
Tobacco smoking
Never	49 (18%)	48 (24%)	1 (1%)
Former	139 (51%)	112 (56%)	27 (38%)
Current	83 (31%)	39 (20%)	44 (6 1%)
Pack-years Median (IQR)	26 (7–43)	19 (1–39)	41 (31–52)
≥30 pack-years	128 (47%)	71 (36%)	57 (79%)
Tumor subsite
Tonsil	168 (62%)	128 (64%)	40 (56%)
Base of tongue	91 (34%)	70 (35%)	21 (29%)
Other site, oropharynx	12 (4%)	1 (<1%)	11 (15%)
T classification
T1-2	187 (69%)	152 (76%)	35 (49%)
T3-4	79 (29%)	44 (22%)	35 (49%)
Missing	5 (2%)	3 (2%)	2 (3%)
N classification
N0	40 (15%)	19 (10%)	21 (29%)
N+	231 (85%)	180 (90%)	51 (71%)
Stage*
I–II	25 (9%)	13 (7%)	12 (17%)
III–IV	246 (91%)	186 (93%)	60 (83%)
Treatment
≥ 66 Gy	270 (99%)	198 (99%)	72 (100%)
Cisplatin weekly	216 (80%)	169 (85%)	47 (65%)
Nimorazole	264 (97%)	197 (99%)	67 (93%)
HPV DNA
Positive	194 (72%)	194 (97%)	0
Negative	77 (28%)	5 (3%)	72 (100%)

* Staging according to TNM6.

Table 2. Clinical characteristics in HPV DNA positive patients according to HPV genotype (n = 194).

	HPV-16 (n = 169)	Other HPV genotypes (HPV-18/31/33/35/59) (n = 25)
Age
Years, median (IQR)	57 (52–61)	63 (56–70)
Gender
Male	141 (83%)	22 (88%)
Tobacco smoking
Never	45 (27%)	3 (12%)
Former	95 (56%)	16 (64%)
Current	29 (17%)	6 (24%)
Pack-years median (IQR)	19 (0–36)	20 (12–41)
≥30 pack-years	58 (34%)	10 (40%)
Tumor subsite
Tonsil	111 (66%)	13 (52%)
Base of tongue	57 (34%)	12 (48%)
Other site, oropharynx	1 (1%)	0
T classification
T1-2	128 (76%)	20 (80%)
T3-4	38 (22%)	5 (20%)
Missing	3 (2%)	0
N classification
N0	15 (9%)	4 (16%)
N+	154 (91%)	21 (84%)
Stage*
I–II	10 (6%)	3 (12%)
III–IV	159 (94%)	22 (88%)
HPV genotype		169 (87%)
16		13 (7%)
33		7 (4%)
35		2 (1%)
18		1 (1%)
31		1 (1%)
33 + 35		1 (1%)
59

* Staging according to TNM6.

Figure 1. Overall survival and loco-regional failure according to p16 (top row), HPV DNA (Middle row) and HPV genotype (bottom row, HPV DNA positive patients only, n = 194). HR: Hazard ratio. CI: 95% confidence interval.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, JKL-F, upon reasonable request.