The elevated expression of SYCP2 in HPV‐associated tumor tissue has previously been noted in three expression analysis studies.29, 32, 39SYCP2 is a testis‐specific human gene and aberrant expression in HPV+ cancers may contribute to the genomic instability induced by high‐risk HPVs and subsequent oncogenic change.31 A hypothetical model applied to HPV+ oropharyngeal carcinoma is provided in Figure 5. This evidence concerns the gene SYCP2 and oropharyngeal carcinoma.