Impact of HPV status on treatment of squamous cell cancer of the oropharynx: what we know and what we need to know.

Abstract

Studies report an increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancers linked to infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). We reviewed trials assessing outcomes by HPV DNA status in patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. Seven of the eight studies identified showed significantly better survival in patients with HPV DNA-positive tumors vs. HPV DNA-negative tumors. The review also describes what needs to be defined regarding optimal treatments. Future trials should incorporate HPV DNA status as a risk determinant and explore treatments for high-risk patients needing therapy intensification, and low- and intermediate-risk patients needing treatment de-intensification to improve tolerability, without compromising survival.

• Authors: Silke Tribius, Anna S Ihloff, Thorsten Rieckmann, Cordula Petersen, Markus Hoffmann
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 304 Issue 2 Pg. 71-9 (May 28 2011) ISSN: 1872-7980 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 21376458 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Humans
• Neoplasms, Squamous Cell (mortality, therapy, virology)
• Oropharyngeal Neoplasms (mortality, therapy, virology)
• Papillomavirus Infections (complications, mortality)
• Radiotherapy
• Treatment Outcome