Clinical impact of p16 positivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract Purpose The clinical characteristics and prognosis of HPV‐related nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) remain controversial. The relationship between p16 status and outcome was retrospectively investigated in the NPC patients. Materials and Methods Between May 2009 and May 2019, 81 NPC patients who received definitive radiation therapy, in a hospital in Japan, were identified and the prognosis was investigated. p16, p53, and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status were assessed. Also, circumferential tumor extent in the nasopharyngeal cavity was assessed on a 5‐point scale. Results Nine and 72 patients were p16‐positive and p16‐negative, respectively. Fewer patients were EBV‐encoded RNA in situ hybridization (EBER‐ISH)‐positive in the p16‐positive group than in the p16‐negative group (p