Molecular Stratification of Early-Stage Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Impact of HPV and TP53 Status

Highlight

• Molecular classification based on HPV and p53 status identifies distinct prognostic subgroups within early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSCC).
• HPV-negative tumors with TP53 mutations exhibit significantly worse 10-year disease-specific survival and higher recurrence rates, especially groin failures.
• HPV-positive tumors show excellent prognosis with high 10-year survival and low recurrence.
• A tumor-free margin of ≥3 mm confers protective benefit and remains important for HPV-/p53-mutant tumors.

Study Background