Prognosis of HPV positive and HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer. A first retrospective observational cohort study in Argentina

Abstract

Background: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased, particularly the one associated with human papillomavirus (HPV+). These patients have better prognosis than those with HPV- OPSCC.
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and therapeutic characteristics and outcome of a series of patients treated for HPV+ versus HPV- OPSCC.
Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective and observational cohort study using demographic, clinical, therapeutic and follow-up data collected from OPSCC patients treated between January 2019 and December 2021. The data were retrieved from the electronic medical records of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, from the general archive of medical records and from the database of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery.
Results: A total of 45 patients were identified, 28 with HPV+ and 17 with HPV- OPSCC. The most common tumor location was the tonsil in 33 cases (73%) and was significantly more common in HPV+ cases (n = 24; 85.7%) versus HPV- cases (n = 9; 52.9%; p = 0.04). The proportion of HPV+ cases treated with radiation therapy alone was higher than that of HPV- patients, (24 versus 8; p = 0.01). Concurrent chemotherapy was more common in HPV- patients (41.2; p = 0.00). The most common stages in HPV+ patients were I and III, with no patients in stage IV, while 10 HPV- patients were in stage IV.
Conclusion: Most patients with OPSCC were HPV+ and the tonsil was the most common location; HPVpatients had more advanced disease.