De-Escalating Strategies in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has emerged as a diverse clinical and biological disease entity, mainly in young patients with oropharyngeal tumors who are nonsmokers and nondrinkers. Indeed, during the past few years, the pendulum has shifted towards a new epidemiological reality, the “HPV pandemic”, where the majority of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) are attributed to HPV. The oncogenic potential of the virus is associated to its capacity of integrating oncogenes E6 and E7 into the host cell, leading to the inactivation of several tumor suppressor genes, such as Rb. HPV status can affect prognosis in OPSCC, but its role as a predictive biomarker remains to be elucidated. Given the favorable prognosis associated with HPV-positive disease, the concept of de-escalation treatment strategies has been developed with the primary intent being the reduction of treatment-related long-term toxicities. In this review, we aim to depict current data regarding treatment de-escalation in HPV-associated OPSCC and discuss ongoing clinical trials.