Human Papillomavirus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has historically been attributable to tobacco and alcohol exposure and saw a decline in incidence after societal norms shifted away from smoking. In recent decades, this disease has had a re-emergence due to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, now surpassing cervical cancer as the number 1 cause of HPV-related cancer in the United States. HPVpositive OPSCC differs from HPV-negative disease in epidemiology, prognosis, treatment, and prevention. Additionally, there is a deficit in awareness of the causal relationship between HPV and OPSCC. This, coupled with low vaccination rates, puts primary care providers in a unique position to play a vital role in prevention and early diagnosis. In this review, we highlight the epidemiology, screening, patient presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention of HPV-positive OPSCC, with a focus on the primary care provider's role.

Human Papillomavirus Oral Infection: Review of Methodological Aspects and Epidemiology

“…HPV-DNA was then detected using a nested PCR (PGMY09/11 primer set for the first round, GP5+/6+ primer set for the second round), followed by the direct sequencing of the purified PCR products on a genetic analyzer. The GENOSEARCH HPV31 assay, able to detect 31 HPV types (High-risk HPVs: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68; Low-risk HPVs 6,11,26,42,44,53,54,55,61,62,66,70,71,73,82,84,90,CP6108) was also utilized to test the same samples. This method is based on a multiplex PCR followed by a hybridization with genotype-specific probes on a Luminex platform.…”

“…A systemic review that included 18 studies con- In the following paragraphs, we will focus on oral infection by Alpha, Beta and Gamma HPVs in "healthy", i.e., cancer-free, subjects. Other reviews can be consulted for comprehensive data regarding oral HPV in HNSCC patients [65,66].…”

Hypermethylation of nc886 in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer and its clinical implications: An epigenome-wide association study

“…HPV(+) OPSCC differs from HPV(−) OPSCC in etiology, treatment, prognosis, and biology. 40 HPV(+) OPSCC patients are more sensitive to radiotherapy and have significantly better survival than HPV(−) patients. 11 The biological mechanisms underlying the better therapeutic response and survival of HPV(+) OPSCC patients are not fully understood.…”

Novel HPV Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surveillance DNA Assay Cost Analysis

“…Although the incidence of head and neck cancer in the United States has been steadily decreasing, in the recent few decades, HPV associated OPSCC (HPV + OPSCC) has not followed this trend 1 . Despite the availability of quadrivalent HPV vaccine, vaccination rates have remained low in the United States 2 .…”