Prognostic Significance of HPV Associated Head and Neck Carcinomas

Abstract

Human papilloma virus associated head and neck cancers represent a distinct clinic-pathological group of Head and Neck cancers. These tumors have special predilection for lingual & palatine tonsils, present at young age, are associated with high risk sexual behavior. HPV positive tumors responds better to cancer directed therapy and have favorable prognosis, long-term survival is as high as 80%. In this subset of patients there is 55% reduction in mortality when compared with the traditional head and neck carcinomas associated with smoking and alcohol consumption. Optimal therapy for these carcinomas remains unclear and undefined, although growing evidence supports the theory that this subset of patients should be treated differently with the aim of decreasing treatment related morbidity. In the present article, we summarize the prognostic significance HPV tumor status within large retrospective series, prospective phase III trials and meta-analysis.