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HPV-associated head and neck cancers increasing in whites, Hispanics

Issue: June 25, 2012

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HPV-associated head and neck cancers seem to be disproportionately affecting certain age, gender and racial groups, including non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics, study results suggest.

Head and neck cancer incidence varies by gender and race, with rates traditionally higher in men and blacks, according to background information in the study. Given the recent association of HPV with head and neck cancers, it is important to assess the incidence trends of head and neck cancers as they relate to HPV infection, researchers said.

The researchers used the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries to identify cases of head and neck cancers between 1995 and 2005. They classified cases of cancer into two categories: HPV-associated sites and non HPV-associated sites.

As found in previous research, men and non-Hispanic blacks had greater overall incidence of head and neck cancers. When researchers evaluated head and neck cancers among HPV-associated sites, they observed a significant increase in incidence. The incidence of head and neck cancers among non–HPV-associated sites declined.

Cancer incidence among HPV-associated sites increased in non-Hispanic white men aged 45 to 54 years, with an annual percent change of 6.28% (P<.05). In contrast, incidence in non-Hispanic black men decreased in almost every age category.

“This study has shown that head and neck cancer cases associated with HPV infection represent a different disease process and mechanism compared to head and neck cancer cases caused by alcohol and tobacco use,” the researchers wrote. “The findings of this study suggest that determination of HPV tumor status could be important in the decision of treatment therapies for patients.”

References:

• Cole L. PLoS One. 2012;doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032657.