Harsh Nitin Dongre

TP53 mutation and human papilloma virus status as independent prognostic factors in a Norwegian cohort of vulva squamous cell carcinoma

AbstractIntroductionVulva squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) develops through two separate molecular pathways—one involving high‐risk human papilloma virus infection (HPV‐associated), and the other without HPV infection (HPV‐independent) often involving TP53 mutation. HPV‐associated VSCC generally has a better progression‐free survival than HPV‐independent VSCC. The aim of this study was to determine TP53 mutation status using immunohistochemistry, compare different methods of HPV detection and correlate both with survival in a retrospective cohort of 123 patients with VSCC.Material and methodsImmunohistochemistry for p53, Ki67 and p16INK4A (a surrogate marker for HPV infection) was performed on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues from a cohort of surgically treated VSCC patients to identify molecular subtypes of VSCC. Presence of HPV infection was detected by HPV DNA PCR and HPV mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH). The Pearson chi‐square test and multivariable Cox regression model were used to investigate the association of different parameters with progression‐free survival and disease‐specific survival (DSS), and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to show the association of different parameters with survival.ResultsThe results of p53 and p16INK4A immunohistochemistry confirmed three VSCC subtypes associated with different prognosis. The TP53 mutation status was identified as an independent prognostic factor of worse progression‐free survival (p = 0.024) after adjustment for FIGO stage. p16INK4A immunohistochemistry, mRNA ISH, and DNA PCR had excellent concordance in terms of HPV detection. According to the multivariable Cox regression model, the presence of hrHPV mRNA correlated significantly with increased progression‐free survival (p = 0.040) and DSS (p = 0.045), after adjustment for other confounders.Conclusionsp53 and p16INK4A immunohistochemistry stratify VSCC cohort into three subtypes with TP53mutated patients having the worst prognosis. The detection of hrHPV mRNA by ISH was an independent predictor of increased survival. Thus, the combined detection of p53 and HPV mRNA might improve risk stratification in VSCC.

Prognostic Value of an Integrated Human Papillomavirus and Immunoscore Model to Predict Survival in Vulva Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Although the prognostic value of immune-related biomarkers is well characterized in many solid tumors, their significance in vulva squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) remains unclear. In this study, we report a comprehensive analysis of programmed death ligand protein 1 (PD-L1) and immune cell infiltration in VSCC and establish immunoscore models for classification of the disease. Tissue microarrays, immunohistochemistry, and digital quantification were used to investigate the number of CD4+, CD8+, CD68+, CD14+, FoxP3+, and PD-L1+ cells in epithelial and stromal compartments of VSCC (n = 117). Immunoscores were developed using these parameters and applying the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to identify predictors of survival. Immunoscores were then integrated with human papillomavirus (HPV) status, as determined using messenger RNA in situ hybridization, to construct internally validated nomograms. The prognostic models were subsequently applied in whole tissue sections (n = 25) to investigate agreement. Advanced VSCC (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III/IV) was characterized by high densities of CD68+ macrophages and PD-L1+ cells (Spearman correlation, ρ = 0.80) in the epithelium. PD-L1 status independently predicted poor progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio = 1.828; 95% CI, 1.039-3.215; P = .036). Immunoscore