Genomic Copy Number Variations Characterize the Prognosis of Both P16-Positive and P16-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Curative Resection

Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Dec;94(50):e2187. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002187.

Abstract

Recently increasing high-risk HPV+ OSCC exhibits unique clinical and molecular characteristics compared to HPV-unrelated (HPV-) counterpart. Genomic copy number variations (CNVs), unique in HPV+ OSCCs, and their role for the prognosis prediction remains poorly studied. Here, we analyzed the distinct genomic copy number variations (CNVs) in human papillomavirus-related (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their role as a prognosticator after curative resection. For 58 consecutive, Korean OSCC patients that underwent surgery-based treatment with median 10 years of follow-up, HPV-related markers, and genome-wide CNV analysis were analyzed. Clinical associations between the CNV profile and survival analyses were followed. p16 expression predicted the overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.27, confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.80, P = 0.0006) better than HPV L1 PCR (HR = 0.83, CI: 0.66-1.29, P = 0.64), smoking, or other variables. Although the overall number of CNVs was not significantly different, 30 loci showed unique CNV patterns between the p16+ and p16- groups. A region containing PRDM2 was amplified only in the p16+ group, whereas EGFR and 11q13.3 showed increased amplification in p16- counterpart. Loss of a locus containing FGF18 led to a worse, but gain of region including CDK10 and RAD18 led to better overall survival (OS) in all OSCC patients. Meanwhile, subgroup analysis of p16+ OSCC revealed that amplification of regions harboring HRAS and loss of locus bearing KDR led to better OS. p16+ OSCC exhibit distinct CNV patterns compared with p16- counterpart. Specific patterns of CNVs predict better survival, especially in p16+ OSCC. This might allow better insights of the outcome after curative resection for HPV+ and HPV- OSCC.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • DNA Copy Number Variations*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification
  • Pregnancy
  • Republic of Korea
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • CDKN2A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • Neoplasm Proteins