AUTHOR=Li Peng , Fang Qigen , Yang Yanjie , Chen Defeng , Du Wei , Liu Fei , Luo Ruihua 

TITLE=Survival Significance of Number of Positive Lymph Nodes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stratified by p16

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.545433

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.545433

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To analyze the significance of the number of positive lymph nodes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) stratified by p16.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of 674 patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 4 groups based on their number of positive lymph nodes (0 vs. 1–2 vs. 3–4 vs. ≥5). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates. Cox model was used to evaluate the independent risk factor.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> p16 showed positivity in 85 patients with a rate of 12.6%. In patients with p16 negativity, the 5-year DFS rates were 52%, 39%, and 21% in patients with 0, 1–2, and 3–4 positive lymph nodes, respectively, in patients with ≥5 positive lymph nodes, all patients developed recurrence within 2 years after operation, the difference was significant; the 5-year DSS rates were 60, 38, and 18% in patients with 0, 1–2, and 3–4 positive lymph nodes, respectively, in patients with ≥5 positive lymph nodes, all patients died within 4-years after operation. The difference was significant. In p16 positivity patients, the 3-year DFS rates were 41% and 17% in patients with 0–2 and ≥3 positive lymph nodes, respectively, the difference was significant; the 3-year DSS rates were 84 and 46% in patients with 0–2 and ≥3 positive lymph nodes, the difference was significant.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> The number of positive lymph nodes is significantly associated with the survival in oral SCC, its survival effect is not affected by p16 status.</p>