Impact of Tobacco Smoking on Mutational Landscape in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is now the most common form of head and neck cancer in many western countries due to HPV. Patients with HPV-related (HPV+) OPC have clearly better outcomes after treatment. This has led to a strong wish to individualize treatment for these patients, aiming to minimize morbidity as well as to increase survival. However, patients with HPV+ OPC and a significant history of former or current tobacco smoking (HPV+ smokers) have increased risk of locoregional failure and increased cancer mortality after radiation therapy-based treatment than do non-smokers with HPV+ OPC.

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