biostudies-literatureJouhi LOrion Farmos FoundationThe Finnish Dentist Association ApolloniaCancer Foundation Finland srSigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö (FI)Research Foundation of Finnish Otolaryngological Association1619-1629https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11028863biostudies-literatureUnknown66(12)A large subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) is associated with HPV infection and has better outcome than non-viral-related tumors. Various malignancies also carry a role for TLRs, key activators of inflammation and innate immunity. We examined the expression of TLRs in OPSCC, and their association with HPV status and treatment outcome. TLR 5, 7, 9, and p16 were studied by immunohistochemistry and HPV status was detected with in situ hybridization in 202 tumors of consecutively treated OPSCC patients using tissue microarray method. The relations between TLR expression and HPV status, p16 expression, clinicopathological factors, and survival were analyzed. TLR 5, 7, and 9 expression patterns differed between HPV-positive and -negative tumors, and they were statisticallyCancer immunology, immunotherapy : CIIToll-like receptor 5 and 7 expression may impact prognosis of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients.PMC11028863160068Atula THaglund CHagstrom JJouhi LRemes SMMohamed HMakitie AfalseToll-like receptor 5 and 7 expression may impact prognosis of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients.A large subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) is associated with HPV infection and has better outcome than non-viral-related tumors. Various malignancies also carry a role for TLRs, key activators of inflammation and innate immunity. We examined the expression of TLRs in OPSCC, and their association with HPV status and treatment outcome. TLR 5, 7, 9, and p16 were studied by immunohistochemistry and HPV status was detected with in situ hybridization in 202 tumors of consecutively treated OPSCC patients using tissue microarray method. The relations between TLR expression and HPV status, p16 expression, clinicopathological factors, and survival were analyzed. TLR 5, 7, and 9 expression patterns differed between HPV-positive and -negative tumors, and they were statistically2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Dec2025-04-22T20:46:25.776Z2025-04-06T03:15:48.521ZS-EPMC110288632885644110.1007/s00262-017-2054-3