HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer and treatment deintensification: how pertinent is it?

In recent years there has been change in trends in the incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) showing an increased incidence, attributable specifically to infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). At the same time there is change in demographic characteristics and prognosis of this subset of HNSCC. Considering the better prognosis, researchers are trying to reduce the acute and long-term toxicities by alteration of various components of treatment protocols. Although treatment deintensification is an option for this group of patients, there is no standard protocol available and should be tried only in the protocol setting.