Human papillomavirus-related head and neck tumors: clinical and research implication.
OBJECTIVE
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are implicated in the development of a subset of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs), especially those arising from the lingual or palatine tonsils. HPV-associated HNSCCs represent a different disease entity from those associated with the traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use. The demonstration that HPV is causally associated with a subset of HNSCC has tremendous clinical and research implications.


RESULTS
In recent years, there has been an increase in the annual incidence of HPV-related HNSCC in the United States and Europe. It has now become clear that a subset of HNSCC is a sexually transmitted disease with distinct pathogenesis and clinical/pathological features. HPV-associated HNSCCs have a better prognosis compared with stage-matched non-HPV-related HNSCC in the majority of studies. Research efforts are now focusing on deintensification of treatment to reduce treatment-associated morbidity. HPV-targeted therapies are under investigation.


CONCLUSIONS
The increasing incidence of HPV-related HNSCC has led to the development of novel research strategies in HNSCC. This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical presentation, molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of HPV-associated HNSCC; it also summarizes how a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of HPV-associated HNSCC is expected to change treatment.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. psyrri237@yahoo.com
Amanda
A
Psyrri
Panagiotis
P
Gouveris
Jan Baptist
JB
Vermorken
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis