Source: annonc.oxfordjournals.org
Authors: M. R. Posner et al.

Background:
The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and overall survival (OS) in oropharynx cancer (OPC) was retrospectively examined in TAX 324, a phase III trial of sequential therapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods:
Accrual for TAX 324 was completed in 2003 and data updated through 2008. Pretherapy tumor biopsies were studied by PCR for human papillomavirus type 16 and linked to OS, progression-free survival (PFS) and demographics.

Results:
Of 264 patients with OPC, 111 (42%) had evaluable biopsies; 56 (50%) were HPV+ and 55 (50%) were HPV−. HPV+ patients were significantly younger (54 versus 58 years, P = 0.02), had T1/T2 primary cancers (49% versus 20%, P = 0.001), and had a performance status of zero (77% versus 49%, P = 0.003). OS and PFS were better for HPV+ patients (OS, hazard ratio = 0.20, P <  0.0001). Local–regional failure was less in HPV+ patients (13% versus 42%, P = 0.0006); at 5 years, 82% of HPV+ patients were alive compared with 35% of HPV− patients (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: HPV+ OPC has a different biology compared with HPV− OPC; 5-year OS, PFS, and local–regional control are unprecedented. These results support the possibility of selectively reducing therapy and long-term morbidity in HPV+ OPC while preserving survival and approaching HPV− disease with more aggressive treatment. Source: Annals of Oncology, 10.1093/annonc/mdr006

Authors:
1. M. R. Posner1,
2. J. H. Lorch2,
3. O. Goloubeva3,
4. M. Tan3,
5. L. M. Schumaker3,
6. N. J. Sarlis4,
7. R. I. Haddad2 and
8. K. J. Cullen3

Authors’ affiliations:
1 The Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York
2 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston
3 Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore
4 Sanofi-aventis U.S., Bridgewater, USA