Research progress in pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis of HPV positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth common malignant tumors of whole body with a high incidence, which accounts for 90% of the head and neck malignant tumors. Previous studies have shown the risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol, are related to the occurrence and development of HNSCC. However, recent studies have shown that the non-tobacco and non-alcohol related HNSCC increased year by year. At the same time, more and more studies have shown that HNSCC is related to the infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), and the occurrence and development of HPV-positive HNSCC has own characteristics in epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prognosis. In this paper the research progress for HPV-positive HNSCC is reviewed.