Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer: The Role of High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus (Clinical Feature‪)‬

Introduction Head and neck cancer is a devastating diagnosis for both patients and family members. The majority of head and neck cancers are located in the oral cavity and oropharynx, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common cell type. Current treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and/or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The treatment is toxic, life altering and frequently unsuccessful. The known risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol use, especially in combination. Recently, an increasing number of patients without these known risk factors are being diagnosed with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. It is clear that in many cases, subtype 16 of the human papilloma virus (HPV) may be the cause. This article will discuss the current state of the evidence of the role of HPV in oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer,