The epidemiological link between human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) of the pharynx was studied. The expression of p53 protein was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. The presence of HPV DNA was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction amplification and "in situ" hybridization. The tobacco and alcohol consumption and the clinical outcomes of nine patients with BSCC of the pharynx are compared with site and stage matched 109 conventional squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. The BSCC specimens were analyzed for the presence of HPV DNA and p53 expression. We did not find any significant differences in tobacco and alcohol consumption between patients with BSCC and patients with SCC. No HPV DNA was detected in BSCC, and p53 overexpression was found in five (55%) of the cases. Our results do not support an etiological link between HPV DNA and BSCC.