Epidemiology and Prognostic Role of HPV Infection in Head and Neck Cancer: A Population-Based Study of the SEER Database

Cancer Med. 2025 Nov;14(22):e71322. doi: 10.1002/cam4.71322.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies with significant variation in epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment responses. However, large-scale data on the clinical epidemiology of HNC and the prognostic impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection have not yet been reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on HNC cases with known HPV status were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Clinical characteristics of HNC were summarized based on HPV status, primary site, and metastatic site. To elucidate the prognostic role of HPV status in HNC, we calculated the relative survival rate (RSR) and conducted Cox regression analysis following propensity score matching by HPV status.

RESULTS: A total of 14,855 HNC cases were included in this study, comprising 10,128 HPV-positive and 4727 HPV-negative cases. Clinical characteristics varied based on HPV status, primary site, and metastatic site. HPV positivity was generally associated with better prognosis, except in cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and cancers originating from the gum, as indicated by RSRs. Subgroup Cox regression analysis demonstrated significantly improved survival for HPV-positive cases compared to their HPV-negative counterparts across most categories.

CONCLUSION: HNC encompasses a diverse group of heterogeneous diseases, with HPV positivity generally associated with a better prognosis.

PMID:41271257 | DOI:10.1002/cam4.71322