In univariate analysis, the HNSCC patients with HPV DNA-positive status and p16INK4a overexpression demonstrated significantly higher recurrence-free survival (P=0.015; hazard ratio (HR) = 8.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12–66.18) compared with other HNSCC patients (Table VI). The gene discussed is CDKN2A; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.