Brian has done quite a bit of research on HPV and p16. He's posted lots of information on the forum. You may want to check out the subject HPV Positive on the Symptoms and Diagnosis Forum.

It is my understanding that when tumors test positive with a p16 cell stain that HPV proteins have been detected...it doesn't mean that the virus is active. It just means that the patient has had the virus in the past. The patient isn't contagious unless there is an active case of HPV. This subject is much more complicated than my rudimentary explanation.

HPV does have a better prognosis because the cell replication process that was damaged due to HPV exposure causes the malignant cells to be more sensitive to radiation--especially when given in conjunction with Erbitux. Erbitux, by the way, is not chemotherapy, per say. It is an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor inhibitor (EGFR inhibitor.)


Last edited by Sandy177; 05-24-2011 10:32 PM.
Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.