Epidemiology of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is increasing in incidence in epidemic proportion. This site specific increase in incidence is due to an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related squamous cell carcinoma, while the incidence of tobacco related squamous cell carcinoma is decreasing. In particular, the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increased among middle aged white men, and sexual behavior is a risk factor. HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma represents a growing etiologically distinct subset of head and neck cancers with unique epidemiological, clinical, and molecular characteristics that differ from those of HPV-unassociated cancers. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology of HPV-related OPSCC, the prevalence of oral/oropharyngeal HPV infection, and efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of HPV-related OPSCC.
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States. Electronic address: KBPytynia@mdanderson.org.
Kristen B
KB
Pytynia
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.
Kristina R
KR
Dahlstrom
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.
Erich M
EM
Sturgis
D006801:Humans; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
Epidemiology; Human papillomavirus; Oropharyngeal cancer