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HPV-associated head and neck tumors: Update 2017

Best Practice Onkologie, ISSN: 1862-8559, Vol: 12, Issue: 3-4, Page: 130-136
2017
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Review Description

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) are the sixth most common cancers worldwide. Classical risk factors are alcohol and tobacco; however, for oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPC), human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been identified as the most relevant pathogenetic drivers. The incidence of HPV-associated OPC is increasing in Europe, Japan, and the USA. HPV-derived oncoproteins E6 and E7 are key factors in the molecular pathogenesis of OPC. The prognosis of patients with HPV-associated OPC undergoing any kind of primary or secondary treatment modality (surgery, adjuvant or palliative chemo- or radiotherapy, molecular-targeted therapy, or immune checkpoint blockade) is more favorable than that of patients with HPV-negative HNSCC. The 2017 update of the Cancer Staging System of the American Joint Committee on Cancer now includes HPV-associated OPC as a distinct entity. According to updated evidence-based treatment guidelines, despite their more favorable prognosis, HPV-associated OPC patients should not be managed with less intensive treatment regimens (outside controlled clinical trials). HPV vaccination should be recommended to young men as well.

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