Cancer of the Oropharynx and the Association with Human Papillomavirus

Eleni M Rettig; Rosh K V Sethi

doi:10.1016/j.hoc.2021.05.004

Cancer of the Oropharynx and the Association with Human Papillomavirus

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021 Oct;35(5):913-931. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2021.05.004. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

Authors

Eleni M Rettig¹, Rosh K V Sethi²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 45 Francis Street, ASB-2, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Center for Head and Neck Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: emrettig@bwh.harvard.edu.
² Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 45 Francis Street, ASB-2, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Center for Head and Neck Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 34244016
DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2021.05.004

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPC) consists of human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative disease caused by tobacco and alcohol use, and HPV-positive disease caused by the sexually transmitted infection HPV. These entities have unique but overlapping risk factors, epidemiologic trends, staging systems, and survival outcomes. HPV-positive tumor status confers a significant survival benefit compared with HPV-negative disease. OPC treatment entails a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Ongoing trials will determine whether treatment of HPV-related disease may be safely deintensified to decrease morbidity. Emerging HPV-related biomarkers are under study as tools to inform screening, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance for HPV-positive OPC.

Keywords: Deintensification; Head and neck cancer; Human papillomavirus; Oropharynx cancer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alphapapillomavirus*
Humans
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / therapy
Papillomaviridae / genetics
Papillomavirus Infections* / complications
Papillomavirus Infections* / therapy
Prognosis