Retracted: Human Papillomaviruses and Squamous Cell Carcinomas of Head and Neck Region

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy reported worldwide, with an estimated global burden of approximately 550,000 incident cases and 300,000 deaths per year and a high case fatality rate. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is an anatomically heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from the mucosal surface of the lips, oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, tonsils, and larynx. Each year approximately 263,000 cases of oral cavity cancer and 135,000 cases of pharyngeal cancer are diagnosed worldwide [20]. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are the most common types of HNSCC. Approximately 50 % of HNSCCs are in the oral cavity, followed by 30 % in the larynx and 10 % in the oropharynx. Alcohol consumption, smoking, smokeless tobacco, poor oral hygiene, and genetic features are key risk factors for HNSCC development [50]. In addition, in the last decade it has become clear that a subset of HNSCC covering approximately 25 % of the worldwide cases is associated with certain HPV types.