Head and neck cancer represents one of the most challenging diseases as the mortality remains high despite advances in early diagnosis and treatment. Human papillomavirus has been implicated in a third of
head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and human papillomavirus type 16 is strongly associated with
carcinomas arising from the oropharynx, the tonsil being the preferred infected site. Novel therapeutic approaches including
immunotherapy are currently under investigation. Immune
vaccines developed against human papillomavirus in the genital area are already available and could simultaneously protect other anatomical localizations; however, prophylactic
vaccines are expected to be effective in reducing the incidence of
tumors after many years and, therefore, there is an urgent need to improve therapeutic interventions, such as
immunotherapy. To date, human papillomavirus therapeutic
vaccines are either at the preclinical level or at early phase human trials for genital pathologies. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence from animal and clinical studies suggests that the enhancement of specific and innate immune responses is effective in clearance of the
human papillomavirus infection, promoting a cautious optimism regarding the achievement of an efficacious
immunotherapy. This article reviews what has been achieved and what remains to be done in the field for the development of future
viral vaccines in head and neck
tumors.