Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Published on: June 14, 2019
Management of human papillomavirus-related head and neck cancer
A M Coughlin1, S Qiu, M P Underbrink
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex., USA.
Abstract:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck malignancies (HNMs) have become a serious health risk over the past 20 years. Despite decreases in non-HPV-related HNMs, the incidence of HPV-related HNMs has skyrocketed, and a new form of tumorigenesis is developing. HPV type 16 is the primary offender, and the majority of these tumors present in the oropharynx, with a smaller proportion in the larynx and oral cavity. While traditionally treated with surgery, the paradigm has shifted to more of a nonoperative chemoradiation therapy approach, with the hope of improving vital functions after therapy. Unfortunately, we continue to see significant dysphagia in these patients after treatment, and work is being done to improve outcomes. With the advent of transoral robotic surgery, we have again been able to reconsider treatment options for these patients, although it has been met with some skepticism and resistance. Here we discuss the scope of HPV-related HNMs, the treatment options and prognosis for the disease, and finally touch upon psychosocial issues related to HPV-related HNMs.
More Related Videos
10:26RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
07:43Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples
Published on: July 29, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
Tumor Immunotherapy