First results of the multicenter registry study on HPV-associated oropharyngeal tumors of the German Study Center for Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) has increased significantly in recent years. However, no reliable data exist on the incidence of HPV-associated oropharyngeal tumors and their treatment from the certified head and neck tumor centers. To close this evidence gap, a multicenter registry was initiated to collect anonymized data on patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma in the german-speaking countries. Data collection is performed prospectively using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture). In 2021, 572 patients with oropharyngeal cancer from 17 different centers were included. 53.1% were found to have an HPV association. The most common locations of HPV-associated primary tumors were the tonsil (47.3%) and the base of the tongue (25.7%). 59.6% of HPV-associated oropharyngeal tumors received primary surgical treatment, compared with only 47.9% of HPV-negative tumors. Of particular interest was the adjuvant therapy for oropharyngeal tumors: 58.5% of HPV-negative oropharyngeal tumors received adjuvant therapy, compared with only 41.2% of HPV-associated oropharyngeal tumors. The start of the HPV registry study was successful. This registry provides insight into the current care situation of oropharyngeal tumors in german-speaking countries and will grow in importance with the participation of more centers.