Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma have a better prognosis when the tumour is associated with HPV infection regardless of whether surgery or radiotherapy is the primary treatment, a review of Australian patients has shown.
A total of 198 patients treated at Sydney hospitals were followed for periods of up to 20 years.
Overall, 42% of tumours were HPV-positive, with 87% of those being type 16. In line with international trends, the proportion involving HPV rose throughout the 20-year study period, reaching 66% in 2005-2006.
After accounting for factors such as age, gender, tumour grade, tumour stage and primary site, HPV-positivity was associated with a significantly lower risk of loco-regional recurrence (odds ratio 0.27). There was also a longer event-free...
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