Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566029›Full record

ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026

The correlation between FDG-PET metabolic parameters, PD-L1 expression and p16/HPV status in oropharyngeal cancers.

Angéla Horváth, Imre Uri, Emese Kristóf, Gábor Lotz, Éva Kocsmár, Bianka Gurbi, Dávid Keresztes, László Tamás, Gábor Polony, Tamás Györke and 1 more

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Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Angéla HorváthDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony Str. 36, Budapest, 1083, Hungary. horvath.angela@semmelweis.hu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0023-1816
Imre UriDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony Str. 36, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
Emese KristófMedical Imaging Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 78/A, Budapest, 1082, Hungary.
Gábor LotzDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői Str. 93, Budapest, 1091, Hungary.
Éva KocsmárDepartment of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői Str. 93, Budapest, 1091, Hungary.
Bianka GurbiDepartment of Molecular Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó Str. 37- 47, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
Dávid KeresztesDepartment of Molecular Biology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó Str. 37- 47, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
László TamásDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony Str. 36, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
Gábor PolonyDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony Str. 36, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
Tamás GyörkeMedical Imaging Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Semmelweis University, Üllői út 78/A, Budapest, 1082, Hungary.
Kornél DánosDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Semmelweis University, Szigony Str. 36, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeImmunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis has emerged as a promising strategy in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). However, reliable non-invasive biomarkers to predict immune checkpoint expression and treatment response are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PET/CT-derived metabolic parameters, PD-L1 expression, and p16/HPV status, and their prognostic value in OPSCC.

methodsIn this retrospective analysis, 60 patients with newly diagnosed OPSCC who underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT were included. Tumor PD-L1 expression was assessed using both Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) and Combined Positive Score (CPS). Correlations were analyzed between metabolic PET/CT parameters (maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], metabolic tumor volume [MTV], and total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) and PD-L1 expression. Correlation analyses, survival outcomes, and response to chemoradiotherapy were evaluated, with subgroup analyses based on p16 and HPV DNA status.

resultsSignificant positive correlations were observed between volumetric PET/CT parameters and PD-L1 expression. In HPV DNA-positive OPSCC, PET/CT-derived volumetric parameters (MTV and TLG) showed positive correlations with PD-L1 expression (TPS: rho = 0.501 and 0.512; CPS >20: rho = 0.441 and 0.491). Higher MTV and TLG were associated with significantly shorter overall survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression showed the strong prognostic effect of TLG, independent of p16, MTV and even primary tumor stage. Staging MTV was found to be an independent predictor of complete response to chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.026, OR (odds ratio) = 1.08). (No significant correlation was found in the p16-negative subgroup.)

conclusionsMetabolic tumor burden, reflected by PET/CT-derived MTV and TLG, is positively associated with PD-L1 expression and clinical outcomes in OPSCC. These findings suggest a biologically meaningful link between tumor glycolytic activity and immune checkpoint regulation, particularly in HPV-associated cases. PET/CT-based metabolic profiling may serve as a non-invasive tool for risk stratification and immunotherapy planning in OPSCC.

Indexed as

B7-H1 AntigenCarcinoma, Squamous CellOropharyngeal NeoplasmsPapillomavirus InfectionsPositron Emission Tomography Computed TomographyAgedBiomarkers, TumorCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16FemaleFluorodeoxyglucose F18Human Papillomavirus VirusesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRadiopharmaceuticalsB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCD274 protein, humanCyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16Fluorodeoxyglucose F18RadiopharmaceuticalsFDG-PETMetabolic parametersOropharyngeal cancersPD-L1 expression

Identifiers

PMID41566029
PMCPMC13053565

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.