What is p16 squamous carcinoma? Dave Coulier reveals cancer diagnosis

Dave Coulier recently revealed another cancer diagnosis, mere months after recovering from Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma back in April.

The 66-year old “Full House” actor shared that he’s been diagnosed with p16 squamous carcinoma, specifically oropharyngeal tongue cancer.

The second most common type of skin cancer in the US, squamous cell carcinoma also makes up about 90 percent of all head and neck cancers.

“A couple of months ago, I had a PET scan, and something flared on the scan,” he said on “Today.” “The doctor said, ‘We don’t know what it is, but there’s something at the base of your tongue.’”

Following up from his scan in October with an ear, nose and throat oncologist, Coulier got a CT scan, an MRI and another biopsy.

Coulier’s most recent diagnosis is a type of head and neck cancer that’s unrelated to his previous lymphoma diagnosis.

“To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of woah, it’s gone, and then to get a test that says, well now you’ve got another kind of cancer … it is a shock to the system,” he explained.

Coulier went on to say that he’s already undergoing chemo, with his 35 rounds finishing up Dec. 31. But he stressed that discovering the cancer early on helped in a big way.

“Prognosis is very good for P16 squamous carcinoma,” Coulier said. “But the thing that has really saved my life is that early detection saved my life, not just the first time but the second time as well.”

While Coulier’s prognosis is good, here’s a closer look at p16 squamous carcinoma.

What is p16 squamous carcinoma?

Squamous carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that can affect various areas of the body, including the head and neck or the genitals.

On its own, p16 is a type of protein that’s undetectable and functions as a tumor suppressor in healthy cells by slowing down cell division.

However, an HPV infection can interfere with the normal cell cycle and cause an overproduction of p16 proteins.

Coulier’s doctors said his diagnosis was likely from an HPV virus that had turned into carcinoma, something that happens fairly often.

High-risk HPV types like HPV 16 and HPV 18 and HPV 59 are the most likely to result in squamous carcinoma.

However, while many cases clear up, HPV does cause around 70% of oropharynx cancer cases, according to the CDC.

While high levels of p16 are a reliable indicator of an underlying HPV infection, this isn’t always the case as some p16-positive tumors are HPV-negative.

What are the symptoms of p16 squamous carcinoma?

While this type of cancer could be an indication of an HPV infection, there can be other signs depending on where it’s located.

Coulier’s diagnosis of squamous carcinoma of the head and neck likely results in symptoms such as persistent sore throat, difficulty or pain swallowing, a lump in the neck or ear pain.

But other signs can include red, scaly patches, changes in existing moles or freckles or growths or tumors near the genitals.

How is it diagnosed?

P16 squamous carcinoma is often diagnosed through a multi-step process involving physical exams and a biopsy.

Doctors will determine if the tissue is HPV-related with p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC), a lab test that uses antibodies to see if p16 protein is present in the cells.

After a diagnosis for HPV is given, imaging like CT and PET scans can figure out which stage the cancer is at.

How curable is p16 squamous carcinoma?

Prognosis depends on several factors, including the size, how soon it’s caught and whether it has spread.

When caught early, it has a high survival rate. But if it spreads past its initial location, the five-year survival rate is less than 50%.

HPV-related cancers are also usually more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy, meaning positive outcomes.

What are treatment options?

Squamous cell carcinoma is often treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy known as chemoradiation.

Surgery may also be an option, either as a solo treatment of after chemoradiation to remove any remaining cancer cells.

The lymph nodes may also need to be removed through lymph node dissection if the cancer has spread to them.

Which treatment is used is determined by where the cancer is located, how much it’s spread and the patient’s current health and preferred method.