Table 2.

Definition of HPV-driven HNSCC. From left: anatomic site, HPV types identified, HPV type of E6*I RNA, viral load by HPV16 qPCR (copies/cell), p16^INK4a up-regulation, pRb down-regulation, antibodies to HPV16 and HPV58 E6 and E7 proteins, HPV16 E6 protein, final HPV status. Positivity for individual HPV transformation markers highlighted in bold.

Nr.	Anatomic site	HPV type		Viral load	p16INK4aup-regulation	pRb down-regulation	HPV16/58		HPV16 E6 protein	HPV-driven
		DNA+	RNA+				Ab E6+	Ab E7+
1	Oropharynx	16	16	1.3					yes	yes
2	Oropharynx	16	16	1000		no				yes
3	Oropharynx	16	16	26	yes	yes				yes
4	Oropharynx	16	16	24	yes	no			yes	yes
5	Oropharynx	16	16	40					yes	yes
6	Oropharynx	16	16	3	yes	no				yes
7	Oropharynx	16	16	36	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
8	Larynx	16	16	25	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
9	Oropharynx	16	16	285	yes	yes	yes	yes		yes
10	Oropharynx	16	16	145	yes	no	yes	yes		yes
11	Oropharynx	16	16	0.6			yes	yes	yes	yes
12	Oropharynx	16	16	37			yes	yes	yes	yes
13	Oropharynx	58	58	higha	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
14	Oral cavity	16	16	invalid	yes	yes				yes
15	Oropharynx	16					yes	yes		yes
16	Hypopharynx	16	no	208	no	no				no
17	Oropharynx	16	no	<0.001					no	no
18	Hypopharynx	16	no	<0.001					no	no
19	Oropharynx	16	no	<0.001	no					no
20b	Oropharynx	16								n.d
21b	Oropharynx	16								n.d

^aHigh=tested by quantitative BSGP5+/6+-PCR MPG₅₁ assay [32]; empty=sample not tested; Ab=antibody; n.d=not defined.

^bTumor cases 20 and 21 are not defined since no additional HPV transformation-associated data could be obtained.