Special ReportsAll NewsFDA BriefsOncology IconsThe Targeted PulseVoices from the Field
Conference CoverageConference ListingData Dialogue with the Oncology Brothers
All VideosCase-Based Peer PerspectivesEvolving Paradigms in OncologyExpert Perspective Virtual Tumor BoardInterviewsInvestigator PerspectivesMedical World NewsPersonalized MedicinePivotal Practice Views with the Oncology BrothersPodcastsSpeaking Out
All PublicationsEvolving ParadigmsPeers & Perspectives in OncologyTargeted Therapies in Oncology
CASE-BASED ROUNDTABLEPARTNERS
CME/CEClinical TrialsEventsPrecision Medicine PerspectivesPress ReleasesSponsored ContentTreatment Resources
SUBSCRIBE
BRAIN CANCER
BREAST CANCERBREAST CANCER
GENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERS
GENOMIC TESTINGGENOMIC TESTING
GI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERS
GYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERS
HEAD & NECK CANCERS
HEMATOLOGYHEMATOLOGY
IMMUNOTHERAPYIMMUNOTHERAPY
LEUKEMIASLEUKEMIASLEUKEMIASLEUKEMIAS
LUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCER
LYMPHOMASLYMPHOMASLYMPHOMASLYMPHOMAS
MPNs
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
NTRK GENE FUSIONS
SARCOMA
SKIN CANCERSSKIN CANCERS
THYROID CANCERS
Spotlight -
  • Myeloma
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Gynecologic Cancers
  • Genomic Testing
  • Melanoma
  • Genitourinary Cancers
BRAIN CANCER
BREAST CANCERBREAST CANCER
GENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERSGENITOURINARY CANCERS
GENOMIC TESTINGGENOMIC TESTING
GI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERSGI CANCERS
GYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERSGYNECOLOGIC CANCERS
HEAD & NECK CANCERS
HEMATOLOGYHEMATOLOGY
IMMUNOTHERAPYIMMUNOTHERAPY
LEUKEMIASLEUKEMIASLEUKEMIASLEUKEMIAS
LUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCERLUNG CANCER
LYMPHOMASLYMPHOMASLYMPHOMASLYMPHOMAS
MPNs
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
NTRK GENE FUSIONS
SARCOMA
SKIN CANCERSSKIN CANCERS
THYROID CANCERS
    • CASE-BASED ROUNDTABLE
    • PARTNERS
    • SUBSCRIBE

Your AI-Trained Oncology Knowledge Connection!

scout
Advertisement

Link Drawn Between Oral HPV and Risk of Head and Neck Cancers

February 16, 2016
By Kelly Johnson
Publication
Article
Special ReportsHead and Neck Cancers (Issue 4)
Volume 3
Issue 4

Patients with a certain type of oral human papilloma virus (HPV) have an increased risk of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, as well as oropharyngeal cancer, according to a new study.

The study, led by Ilir Agalliu, MD, ScD, and whose data were published in JAMA Oncology, showed that patients with detectable HPV 16 in their mouthwash samples were 22 times more likely to develop OPC than those without the type of virus.

Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine conducted a nested case-control study, dubbed American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, with 96,650 participants who did not have cancer at baseline. The patients were monitored during the study for nearly 4 years.

The study found a total of 132 participants—103 men and 29 women—developed HNSCC during the follow-up period, and those with oral HPV 16 detection was associated with positive association for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OR, 22.4; 95% CI, 1.8-276.7).

HPV 16 is a well-known cause of head and neck cancers, and in a companion editorial to the study, authors Dana L. Rollison, PhD, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Maura E. Gillison, MD, PhD, Ohio State University, noted that this is the first study to demonstrate conclusively that the presence of oral HPV 16 precedes the development of oropharyngeal cancers.

“These data are remarkably consistent with risk estimates from numerous case-controls studies. However, the study by Agalliu et al contributes to the existing body of evidence by supporting a temporal association between HPV exposure and HNSCC,” the authors wrote. “By linking oral HPV detection directly to HNSCC risk, the Agalliu data have important implications for the use of oral HPV detection for OPC screening.”

The study also found that oral beta- and gamma-HPVs—usually detected in the skin—were associated with the development of head and neck cancers.

Detection of β1-HPV-5 type was associated with OPC (OR, 7.42; 95% CI, 0.98-56.82; P = .054), oral cavity (OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 1.51-18.80; P = .01), and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.00-7.43; P = .05).

The γ11- and γ12-HPV species were associated with both oral cavity (OR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.21-46.17; P = .03; and OR, 6.71; 95% CI, 1.47-30.75; P = .01, respectively) and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OR, 7.49; 95% CI, 1.10-51.04; P = .04 and OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 1.13-24.95; P = .03, respectively).

The study authors noted that these added associations indicate a broader role for strains of HPV in causing head and neck cancers.

The editorial also pointed out that previous studies have shown types of β-HPV infection to be a risk factor for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Although the epidemiological data is limited, the authors suggest that an interaction between β-HPV infection and UV exposure may modify the risk of developing cSCC. Furthermore, they note that other factors such as tobacco smoking and genetics may increase incidence of HNSCC among people with oral HPV types.

The study was limited by the small size, which the authors said reflects the rarity of HNSCC, but further research may help determine if simple oral tests can indicate risk of potentially developing head and neck cancers.

“The use of easily collected oral mouthwash samples can provide a prospective marker for risk of HNSCC and oropharyngeal SCC,” the authors concluded.

References

  1. Agalliu I, Gapstur S, Chen Z, et al. Associations of oral α-, β-, and γ-human papillomavirus types with risk of incident head and neck cancer [published online before print January 21, 2016]. JAMA Oncol. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.5504.
  2. Rollison DE, Gillison ML. The alpha, beta, gammas of orabl human papillomavirus infection and head and neck cancer risk [published online January 21, 2016]. JAMA Oncol.
Articles in this issue

Immunotherapies Gaining Traction in Head and Neck Cancers
Immunotherapies Gaining Traction in Head and Neck Cancers
Patient-Derived Xenografts Could Personalize Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Care
Patient-Derived Xenografts Could Personalize Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Care
Dr. Sylvia Asa on Treating Different Types of Thyroid Cancer
Link Drawn Between Oral HPV and Risk of Head and Neck Cancers
Link Drawn Between Oral HPV and Risk of Head and Neck Cancers
Ilaria Muller on a Possible Common Antigen Between Thyroid and Breast Cancers
Dr. Ramona Dadu on Immunotherapies and Their Role in Thyroid Cancer
Dr. Ramona Dadu on Immunotherapies and Their Role in Thyroid Cancer
Nivolumab Could Change Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Paradigm
Nivolumab Could Change Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Paradigm
Nivolumab Boosts OS in Phase III in SCCHN Study
Nivolumab Boosts OS in Phase III in SCCHN Study

Newsletter

Stay up to date on practice-changing data in community practice.

Subscribe Now!
Recent Videos
Related Content

Nine Staff Management Essentials for Physicians

Nine Staff Management Essentials for Physicians

Richard Payerchin
June 17th 2025
Article

Discover essential strategies for physicians to enhance team management in medical practices, fostering efficiency and improving patient care.

Read More


Roundtable Roundup: Adjuvant Therapy for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer

Roundtable Roundup: Adjuvant Therapy for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 17th 2025
Article

In separate, live virtual events, William J. Gradishar, MD; and Tiffany A. Traina, MD, discussed multiple scenarios for a patient with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer to potentially receive hormonal plus endocrine therapy.

Read More


ALLELE Trial Confirms Clinical Activity of Tabelecleucel in Lymphoproliferative Disease

ALLELE Trial Confirms Clinical Activity of Tabelecleucel in Lymphoproliferative Disease

Courtney Flaherty
June 17th 2025
Article

Tabelecleucel shows promising efficacy in treating EBV-positive PTLD, offering hope for patients resistant to previous therapies.

Read More


Cellular Therapies Show Safety in B-Cell Malignancies

Cellular Therapies Show Safety in B-Cell Malignancies

Caroline Seymour
June 16th 2025
Article

The safety and efficacy outcomes of a total of 3 CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapies were confirmed with other real-world data with CAR T-cell therapy in patients with B-cell malignancies.

Read More


Peers Weigh Efficacy vs Toxicity of Nirogacestat in Progressive Desmoid Tumors

Peers Weigh Efficacy vs Toxicity of Nirogacestat in Progressive Desmoid Tumors

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 16th 2025
Article

During a live event, Hari Deshpande, MD, and participants discussed the DeFi trial and the management of nirogacestat in progressive desmoid tumors.

Read More


Daud Evaluates Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced and Earlier Stages of cSCC

Daud Evaluates Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced and Earlier Stages of cSCC

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 14th 2025
Article

During a Community Case Forum event, Adil Daud, MD, discussed immunotherapy options for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Read More

Related Content

Nine Staff Management Essentials for Physicians

Nine Staff Management Essentials for Physicians

Richard Payerchin
June 17th 2025
Article

Discover essential strategies for physicians to enhance team management in medical practices, fostering efficiency and improving patient care.

Read More


Roundtable Roundup: Adjuvant Therapy for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer

Roundtable Roundup: Adjuvant Therapy for HR+, HER2- Breast Cancer

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 17th 2025
Article

In separate, live virtual events, William J. Gradishar, MD; and Tiffany A. Traina, MD, discussed multiple scenarios for a patient with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer to potentially receive hormonal plus endocrine therapy.

Read More


ALLELE Trial Confirms Clinical Activity of Tabelecleucel in Lymphoproliferative Disease

ALLELE Trial Confirms Clinical Activity of Tabelecleucel in Lymphoproliferative Disease

Courtney Flaherty
June 17th 2025
Article

Tabelecleucel shows promising efficacy in treating EBV-positive PTLD, offering hope for patients resistant to previous therapies.

Read More


Cellular Therapies Show Safety in B-Cell Malignancies

Cellular Therapies Show Safety in B-Cell Malignancies

Caroline Seymour
June 16th 2025
Article

The safety and efficacy outcomes of a total of 3 CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapies were confirmed with other real-world data with CAR T-cell therapy in patients with B-cell malignancies.

Read More


Peers Weigh Efficacy vs Toxicity of Nirogacestat in Progressive Desmoid Tumors

Peers Weigh Efficacy vs Toxicity of Nirogacestat in Progressive Desmoid Tumors

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 16th 2025
Article

During a live event, Hari Deshpande, MD, and participants discussed the DeFi trial and the management of nirogacestat in progressive desmoid tumors.

Read More


Daud Evaluates Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced and Earlier Stages of cSCC

Daud Evaluates Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced and Earlier Stages of cSCC

Targeted Oncology Staff
June 14th 2025
Article

During a Community Case Forum event, Adil Daud, MD, discussed immunotherapy options for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Read More

About Us
Advertise
Contact Us
CureToday.com
CancerNetwork.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
Do Not Sell My Information
Privacy
Terms & Conditions
Editorial Board
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.