Using AVS as a measure of ALDH isoform expression diversity, analysis of the TCGA HNSCC dataset indicated that HPV16+/p53WT tumors have higher AVS compared to HPV−/p53HRmut tumors revealing that the differences in ALDH expression signature between p53 functional states may not be limited to the CIC subset but extend to the bulk tumor cell population as well. This evidence concerns the gene LDHA and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.