Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prevalence and Pathogenesis

Abstract

The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) increases relative to the decrease in the prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in other head and neck locations, given the decreased occurrence of key risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) such as tobacco and alcohol usage. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is widely recognized as a key participant in the onset of HPV-positive (HPV+) OPSCC with a distinct epidemiological, clinical, physiological, ra-diological, behavioral, biological and prognostic properties from HPV-negative (HPV-) OPSCC. Currently, the oropharynx is the only anatomic subsite with a reported causative viral connection in the head and neck. These observations led to the creation of a new staging system more suitable for this distinct entity and changes in therapy paradigms.