Salivary and serum HPV antibody levels before and after definitive treatment in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing in incidence. Laboratory assays that identify virally-mediated disease and predict HPV clearance in OPSCC may have important prognostic implications.

Objective: Here we investigated serum, salivary HPV16 early (E) antibodies before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locoregionally advanced OPSCC.