Prevalence of human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in Serbia

Introduction/Objective Oropharyngeal carcinoma makes up to 3% of all newly diagnosed carcinomas in the world. In Serbia, oropharyngeal carcinoma constitutes 1.8% of all malignancies. Studies have shown a growing role of infections with human papilloma viruses (HPV) in oropharyngeal cancer etiology. HPV-positive patients have a more favorable prognosis and significantly higher rate of overall survival. The purpose of this paper was to establish how HPV status influenced Serbian patients' overall survival and the disease-free survival according to known risk factors (tobacco and alcohol consummation), clinical TNM stage of the disease, and modality of treatment. Methods The study included 87 patients treated for oropharyngeal carcinoma in a one-year period with a five-year follow-up. Treatment modalities included surgery with or without postoperative radio-or chemoradiotherapy, only radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Sex, common risk factors, TNM stage, and treatment method were considered, as well as the influence of HPV status on the overall survival and the disease-specific survival depending on the presence of risk factors. Results HPV-positive patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma were more frequently men, smokers, and alcohol consumers. Considering clinical T, N, and M stage of the disease, the overall survival and the disease-specific survival rates were better in HPV-positive patients, who had better survival if they were treated with primary surgical therapy rather than primary radiotherapy. Conclusion HPV status significantly influenced survival and locoregional control in Serbian patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma. This implies possible modifications of treatment strategies for these patients in order to further improve their prognosis and treatment outcomes.