The role of HPV in head and neck cancer and review of the HPV vaccine

Abstract

Recent data demonstrate that human papillomavirus also plays a role in cancers other than ano-genital cancers, specifically head and neck cancers, and non-cancerous conditions such as recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. As more and more information about the role of infection in non-cervical diseases is amassed, additional questions about whether prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccines will effectively prevent these conditions are raised. This article reviews the epidemiology of oral human papillomavirus infection and the role of human papillomavirus in head and neck cancers. In addition, it will review the known clinical indications for human papillomavirus vaccination, and highlight other potential clinical targets for the vaccine that have not yet been demonstrated in clinical trials but for which there is biologic plausibility.

Fig. 1

Summary of the prevalence of HPV in tumor of oropharyngeal cancer cases reported in the literature by calendar time of case diagnosis and geographic region. Graphed by the median year of case enrollment in each study and restricted to studies which enrolled cases within 11 years or less (or reported HPV prevalence within calendar year strata of 10 years of less). Studies referenced in the figure include cases diagnosed during the 1970’s (Hammarstedt et al., 2006), 1980’s (Brandsma and Abramson, 1989; Chaturvedi et al., 2011; Hammarstedt et al., 2006; Niedobitek et al., 1990; Ogura et al., 1991), 1990’s (Brachman et al., 1992; Cruz et al., 1996; Fouret et al., 1997; Fukushima et al., 1994; Gillison et al., 2000; Hammarstedt et al., 2006; Koch et al., 1999; Mineta et al., 1998; Nishioka et al., 1999; Reimers et al., 2007; Ringstrom et al., 2002; Ritchie et al., 2003; Romanitan et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2004a; Snijders et al., 1996; Strome et al., 2002), 2001–2003 (Hammarstedt et al., 2006; Hansson et al., 2005; Klozar et al., 2008; Klussmann et al., 2001; Lindel et al., 2001; Pintos et al., 2008; Settle et al., 2009; Tachezy et al., 2005; van Houten et al., 2001), and 2004–2009 (Chaturvedi et al., 2011; D’Souza et al., 2007a; El-Mofty and Patil, 2006; Nasman et al., 2009; Romanitan et al., 2008; Tachezy et al., 2009) (Chaturvedi et al., 2011; D’Souza et al., 2007a; El-Mofty and Patil, 2006; Nasman et al., 2009; Romanitan et al., 2008; Tachezy et al., 2009).