HPV-related oropharyngeal head and neck cancer (gene-expression)

HPV-positive squamous oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPCs) have a more positive prognosis compared to HPV-negative OPCs. Nevertheless, the prognosis of some of these tumors is dismal, and currently there are no established prognostic biomarkers in clinical practice. Our study is aimed at evaluating the performances of gene expression signatures that have been previously reported. A cohort of 18 HPV positive OPC patients was retrieved in our institute. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of the primary tumor were collected, and tumor areas were manually macrodissected, excluding non-tumor/necrotic areas. After total RNA extraction, quantification, and quality checks, gene-expression was obtained by DASL microarrays (Illumina). The following demographic and clinical data were collected: i) age; ii) sex; iii) site (OPC); iv) TNM8= AJCC/UICC staging system 8th edition; v) OS_status (1=dead; =alive); vi) OS_time (months)