Does human papillomavirus reduce the prognostic value of nodal involvement in tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas?
Since a substantial percentage of TSCCs are HPV-positive and metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes in less advanced primary tumors, the N status is an unreliable prognostic indicator in TSCCs. HPV is only prognostically relevant in the total tumor population, but loses its value within patient groups receiving a single treatment modality. The value of HPV for prognosis of patients with TSCC requires further study.
These experiments are the first to show a functional role for epithelial chemokines in vivo and reveal an unexpected role for the neutrophil chemokine MIP-2 in controlling mucosal lymphocyte migration.