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Human Papillomavirus: Changing Paradigms in Oropharyngeal Cancer

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Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) has recently been identified as an important etiologic agent in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. The HPV- associated cancers appear to have a different biology than the HPV-negative cancers, and affect a population that is more likely to be young, male, Caucasian, and nonsmoking. More importantly, however, is the recognition that patients with an HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer have a distinctly better survival after treatment than those patients with HPV-negative tumors, although their prognosis is significantly worse if there is a history of tobacco abuse. HPV-associated oropharynx cancer should be recognized as a new biologic entity and studied separately from HPV-negative cancers in future clinical trials. The potential for disease prevention with the use of the current HPV vaccines is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Desk R-35, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    David J. Adelstein & Cristina P. Rodriguez

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  1. David J. Adelstein
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  2. Cristina P. Rodriguez
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Correspondence to David J. Adelstein.

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Adelstein, D.J., Rodriguez, C.P. Human Papillomavirus: Changing Paradigms in Oropharyngeal Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 12, 115–120 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0084-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0084-5

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