Evolving treatment strategies for HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer has emerged as a distinct clinical entity, differing in biology, prognosis, and treatment response from HPV-negative disease. Its increasing incidence rates worldwide, particularly among younger, non-smoking populations, has prompted a reevaluation of standard treatment paradigms. Given the more favorable prognosis of HPV-positive tumors, there is a growing interest in developing treatment strategies that maintain high survival rates while minimizing long-term toxicities. Current research focuses on de-intensification protocols, biomarker-driven therapies, and immunotherapy approaches. This evolving landscape underscores the need for continued investigation into optimizing outcomes while improving the quality of life for affected patients.

This research topic aims to explore current and evolving strategies in the diagnosis, biological basis, treatment, and follow-up of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, to enhance better understanding of disease mechanisms, and develop tailored, less toxic therapies that improve patient outcomes.

We welcome contributions focusing on the following sub-topics related to HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer:

• Epidemiology, diagnosis, work-up and prevention.
• Pathogenesis and tumor biology.
• Current management, practice patterns and controversies.
• Future perspectives and treatment strategies.

Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public omics databases that are not supplemented by relevant functional validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: HPV-postiive, oropharyngeal cancer, cancer, oncology, treatment strategies

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.