title: Is treatment de-escalation a reality in HPV related oropharyngeal cancer?
abstract: The incidence of HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rapidly increasing. It is now well recognised as a distinct clinical and biologic entity, compared to traditional OPSCC. The majority of these patients have an excellent prognosis due to the chemo-radiosensitive nature of these tumours. The de-escalation of current treatment regimens have therefore been proposed in an attempt to reduce the long term treatment related morbidity of this much younger patient cohort. Several of the more pertinent points regarding safe de-escalation strategies are considered within this manuscript.
authors.affiliation: St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: C.Oosth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.affiliation: St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kinsella
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: De-escalation; Oropharyngeal; SCC; Squamos cell carcinoma; Treatment