Mutational Profile of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Relation to HPV : Comparison of Taiwan Data With Published Studies

BACKGROUND: To descriptively compare genomic profiles by human papillomavirus (HPV) status in a Taiwanese multicenter registry with published Western cohorts. METHODS: We reviewed aggregate findings from 290 OPSCC cases in TCOG T1322 (ACTOnco + 440-gene panel) and selected studies from the United States and Europe. No formal cross-cohort statistical comparison was performed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Major driver-gene patterns were broadly similar across cohorts. In the T1322 TMB-evaluable subset (HPV-positive n = 187; HPV-negative n = 99), the supplied summary reported a median TMB of 3.2 mutations/Mb in both groups, with interquartile ranges of 1.3-5.7 and 1.9-4.4 mutations/Mb, respectively. A verified p value for this updated subset was unavailable; therefore, no inference about statistical significance is made. CONCLUSION: Cross-study patterns are hypothesis-generating, and quantitative biomarker comparisons require harmonized methodology and independent validation.