title: The clinical impact of HPV tumor status upon head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fakhry
mesh_terms: D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: HPV; Head and neck cancer; Oropharyngeal neoplasms; Prognosis; Risk factors