The Key Differences Between Human Papillomavirus-Positive and -Negative Head and Neck Cancers: Biological and Clinical Implications

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Oct 23

PMID 34680354

Citations 27

Authors

Steven F Powell

Lexi Vu

William C Spanos

Dohun Pyeon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a unique malignancy associated with two distinct risk factors: exposure to typical carcinogens and infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV encodes the potent oncoproteins E6 and E7, which bypass many important oncogenic processes and result in cancer development. In contrast, HPV-negative HNSCC is developed through multiple mutations in diverse oncogenic driver genes. While the risk factors associated with HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCCs are discrete, HNSCC patients still show highly complex molecular signatures, immune infiltrations, and treatment responses even within the same anatomical subtypes. Here, we summarize the current understanding of biological mechanisms, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes in comparison between HPV-positive and -negative HNSCCs.

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