Human Papilloma Virus Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Immune System: Pathogenesis, Immunotherapy and Future Perspectives

A Khoo; M Boyer; Z Jafri; T Makeham; T Pham; L M Khachigian; P Floros; E Dowling; K Fedder; D Shonka Jr; J Garneau; C H O'Meara

doi:10.3390/ijms25052798

Human Papilloma Virus Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Immune System: Pathogenesis, Immunotherapy and Future Perspectives

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 28;25(5):2798. doi: 10.3390/ijms25052798.

Authors

A Khoo¹, M Boyer², Z Jafri³, T Makeham^{1

4}, T Pham^{1

4}, L M Khachigian³, P Floros⁵, E Dowling⁶, K Fedder⁶, D Shonka Jr⁶, J Garneau⁶, C H O'Meara^{1

4

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
² Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
³ Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
⁴ ANU School of Medicine & Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
⁵ St Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
⁶ Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.

Abstract

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), involves the palatine tonsils, soft palate, base of tongue, and uvula, with the ability to spread to adjacent subsites. Personalized treatment strategies for Human Papillomavirus-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (HPV⁺OPSCC) are yet to be established. In this article, we summarise our current understanding of the pathogenesis of HPV⁺OPSCC, the intrinsic role of the immune system, current ICI clinical trials, and the potential role of small molecule immunotherapy in HPV⁺OPSCC.

Keywords: cancer of the oropharynx; head & neck cancer; immune system; immunotherapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
Humans
Immune System / pathology
Immunotherapy
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms* / pathology
Papillomaviridae
Papillomavirus Infections*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.