A Pilot Study into the Association between Oral Health Status and Human Papillomavirus-16 Infection.

Background: Over the next 20 years, oropharyngeal cancers (OPC) will represent the majority of head and neck cancers (HNCs) in the United States. It is estimated that human papillomavirus (HPV) may account for as much as 70% to 80% of OPCs in North America and in certain parts of Europe. It is hence crucial to understand the disease risk factors and natural history of oral HPV infections.

Salivary epigenetic biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

The early detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) continues to be a challenge to the clinician. Saliva as a diagnostic medium carries significant advantages including its close proximity to the region of interest, ease of collection and noninvasive nature. While the identification of biomarkers continues to carry significant diagnostic and prognostic utility in HNSCC, epigenetic alterations present a novel opportunity to serve this purpose.