De-Escalation Treatment for Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer: Questions for Practical Consideration

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which accounts for an increasing proportion of all head and neck cancers, represents a specific entity with distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. It is now firmly established that patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC have a significantly improved prognosis because this variant has exquisite radiosensitivity compared with HPV-negative oropharyngeal SCC; thus, it can be targeted with de-escalated approaches using reduced doses of radiation and/or chemotherapy. The overriding goal of de-escalation is to maintain the high cure and survival rates associated with traditional approaches while reducing the incidence of both short- and long-term toxicity. Although the exact reason for the improved radiosensitivity of HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma is unclear, prospective studies have now been published demonstrating that de-escalated radiation can successfully maintain high rates of cure and preserve the quality of life for appropriately selected patients with this disease. However, these studies have been complicated by such factors as the relatively limited sample sizes, as well as the variability in treatment, inclusion criteria, and follow-up. How treatment paradigms will evolve, particularly in the era of precision medicine, is a provocative question and is the subject of this review.