Global burden of oropharyngeal cancer attributable to human papillomavirus by anatomical subsite and geographic region

Background: Oropharynx is the anatomical site with the highest human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in head and neck. Many studies on HPV prevalence and p16INK4a positivity in oropharyngeal cancer have been published in recent years. We aimed to update the global burden estimates of oropharyngeal cancer attributable to HPV with the latest data and estimate global burden of tonsillar cancer and base of tongue cancer attributable to HPV by region and country. Methods: We calculated the number of new cancer cases using the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Volume XI (CI5XI) and country-specific population in 2012 issued by the United Nations. Estimates of HPV prevalence and p16INK4a positivity were obtained from literature search and pooled analyses where necessary. Results: Globally the number of oropharyngeal cancer and tonsillar cancer attributable to HPV were 42,000 and 20,000 in 2012, corresponding to AFs of 42.7% and 52.7%. The number of cancer cases attributable to HPV among males was about 4-fold greater than that among females. For both oropharyngeal cancer and tonsillar cancer, AFs were higher in more developed countries. Among HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer cases, 86.7%, 87.8%, and 92.5% could have been prevented by bivalent (2v), quadrivalent (4v), and nonavalent (9v) HPV vaccines. Conclusions: It is worth considering the inclusion of HPV immunization in males, especially in the regions where oropharyngeal cancer is highly prevalent.

Automated summary

This study updates the global burden estimates of oropharyngeal cancer attributable to HPV and estimates the global burden of tonsillar cancer and base of tongue cancer. The study found that the number of cancer cases attributable to HPV is about 4-fold greater in males than females, and the burden of HPV-related cancers is higher in developed countries.