Year: 2026 | Month: January | Volume: 16 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 281-288
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260133
P16 Immunohistochemistry as a Surrogate Marker for High-Risk HPV in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Vinitha P S1, Rajesh H Chandan2, Neha Jassi3, Sunita S Vernekar4
1Post Graduate Student, Department of Pathology, 2Professor, Department of Pathology, 3Post Graduate Student, Department of Pathology, 4Professor and Head of Department, Department of Pathology,
Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Hubballi, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Vinitha P S
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: HPV-related oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a unique form of head and neck cancer, primarily affects the oropharynx. The primary causative agent is high-risk HPV types, predominantly HPV 16. HPV's E6 and E7 genes are central to HPV-induced cancer development. The E7 oncogene causes strong p16 expression in HPV-positive tumor cells. p16 immunohistochemistry is considered a preferred test for predicting outcomes in OSCC since it is cheaper, easier than other HPV tests, widely available, easily interpreted, and accurately predicts patient outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate HPV expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to assess its correlation with different histological grades of OSCC using p16 immunohistochemistry. This study also aims to correlate between the patterns of p16 expression with the various histological grades of OSCC.
METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study analysed 30 paraffin-embedded OSCC cases over one year, including well, moderately, and poorly differentiated subtypes. Sections were stained with p16 monoclonal antibody (Clone JC8). Three observers evaluated p16 expression, assessing both positivity rates and staining patterns across different histological grades.
RESULTS: Among 30 OSCC cases, overall p16 positivity was 70% which was seen increasing with tumor grade: well-differentiated 66.7%, moderately-differentiated 69.2%, poorly-differentiated 100%, showing progressively stronger and more diffuse staining.
CONCLUSION: Our study showed an association between HPV and OSCC using p16 immunohistochemistry, also revealing distinct predominant staining patterns in various histological grades of OSCC. Hence, our study suggests that p16 immunohistochemistry can be considered a potential surrogate marker for HPV infection in OSCC, especially in resource limited settings.
Key words: High Risk HPV, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, p16 Immunohistochemistry, Surrogate Marker, Association between HPV and Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Original Research Article in Pathology