# Treatment Outcomes of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Soft Palate and the Prognostic Significance of HPV/p16 Status

## TL;DR

This study finds that surgery improves survival for early-stage soft palate cancer, and HPV status does not affect prognosis.

## Contribution

Identifies primary surgery as a better treatment for early-stage SCCSP and shows HPV/p16 status is not a prognostic marker.

## Key findings

- Primary surgery improves progression-free, overall, and disease-specific survival in early-stage SCCSP.
- HPV/p16 status does not significantly affect survival outcomes in SCCSP patients.
- Multivariate analysis confirms surgery's independent benefit for early-stage SCCSP.

## Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate (SCCSP) represents a rare subtype of oropharyngeal cancer. This study aims to evaluate the treatment outcomes of SCCSP and to assess the prognostic significance of HPV status.

Patients diagnosed with SCCSP between January 1981 and December 2021 were collected. Survival outcomes were compared.

In univariate analysis, primary surgery resulted in superior progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and disease‐specific survival (DSS) compared with definitive radiotherapy (p < 0.05). Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that primary surgery independently correlated with superior PFS (HR = 0.37, p = 0.002), OS (HR = 0.55, p = 0.012), and DSS (HR = 0.45, p = 0.020) in early‐stage SCCSPs. Additionally, no significant prognostic differences were observed between HPV/p16 positive and HPV/p16 negative SCCSPs (p > 0.05).

Surgery yields superior oncological outcomes for early‐stage SCCSP patients. HPV status does not demonstrate prognostic significance in SCCSP.