The clinical impact of HPV tumor status upon head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Eleni Benson; Ryan Li; David Eisele; Carole Fakhry

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.09.008

The clinical impact of HPV tumor status upon head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Oral Oncol. 2014 Jun;50(6):565-74. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Oct 14.

Authors

Eleni Benson¹, Ryan Li², David Eisele³, Carole Fakhry⁴

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery., 601 N. Caroline Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. Electronic address: ebenson6@jhmi.edu.
² Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery., 601 N. Caroline Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. Electronic address: rli15@jhmi.edu.
³ Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery., 601 N. Caroline Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. Electronic address: deisele1@jhmi.edu.
⁴ Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery., 601 N. Caroline Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; Milton J. Dance Jr. Head and Neck Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21204, United States; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 615 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. Electronic address: cfakhry@jhmi.edu.

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is etiologically responsible for a distinct subset of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs). HPV-positive HNSCCs (HPV-HNSCCs) most commonly arise from the oropharynx and are responsible for the increasing incidence of oropharyngeal SCC (OSCC) in the United States (US) and abroad. HPV-positive OSCC (HPV-OSCC) has a unique demographic and risk factor profile and tumor biology. HPV-OSCC patients tend to be white, younger, and have a higher cumulative exposure to sexual behaviors as compared with HPV-negative OSCC patients. HPV-positive tumor status also significantly improves survival, and is indeed the single strongest prognostic factor for OSCC. The mechanisms that underlie the improved prognosis conferred by HPV-positive disease are unknown. The purpose of this review is to describe the clinical impact of HPV status in HNSCC, particularly in OSCC, both in terms of the unique clinic-demographic profile and prognostic implications.

Keywords: HPV; Head and neck cancer; Oropharyngeal neoplasms; Prognosis; Risk factors.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alphapapillomavirus / isolation & purification*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology*
Female
Humans
Male
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / virology*
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Sex Factors

Grants and funding

T32 DC000027/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/United States