Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
HPV-Associated Head and Neck Second Primary Tumors-A Case Series
Shimrit Sharav1, Joshua D Horton2, Zachary Theodossiou1
1Head and Neck Specialists, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute, HCA Healthcare, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Background:
There is limited understanding of head and neck second primary tumors (SPTs) in HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Analogous to the concept of field cancerization of the upper airway known to contribute to the development of smoking-related head and neck SPTs, this case series reports four cases of HPV-associated SPTs.
Methods:
We reviewed the charts of four patients diagnosed with HPV-associated oropharyngeal SCC who subsequently developed HPV-associated SPTs. Clinical data was collected, including demographics, tumor characteristics, time elapsed between the two diagnoses, and treatment type.
Results:
The average age of the patients was 68 years. All of the patients were non-smokers, and none reported heavy alcohol use. All patients had the first cancer in the oropharynx. The time between the first and second diagnoses ranged from 3 and 12 years.
Conclusion:
HPV has not been previously identified as a risk factor for head and neck SPTs. Given the long period between the first and second cancers and the lack of other risk factors for head and neck cancer, our case series demonstrates HPV-associated head and neck SPTs.
More Related Videos
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
06:57Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Published on: June 14, 2019
Related Concept Videos
02:18Cancer
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:30Cancer 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...