Update in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has suffered an increase in its incidence in recent decades, explained by the increase in its type related to the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are clinical and prognostic differences between the two groups of OPSCC according to their etiological relationship with HPV.  On the one hand, those related to HPV appear in a younger population, with a lower prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption; in addition to presenting a small size of the primary tumor, with early lymph node involvement.  Furthermore, those related to HPV have a better prognosis than their non-virus counterpart, presenting in some studies up to 58% less risk of death, independent of treatment used. Currently, the TNM classification system in its 8th edition presents a different classification for both groups.  Despite this, the treatment does not differ between the two, which has led to studies that seek to answer whether the de-escalation of therapy in the group associated to HPV and with a low risk of distant metastasis would maintain the reported good oncological results, reducing early and long-term complications associated with treatment, however, there is still no evidence to support its use. Finally, primary prevention through the HPV vaccine is a promising element, however there is no evidence to confirm its usefulness.