Oncogenic Oral Human Papillomavirus Clearance Patterns over 10 Years.

Background: Effective screening for oropharyngeal cancer is lacking. Four oncogenic HPV clearance definitions were explored to understand long-term natural history for persistent oncogenic oral HPV (oncHPV), the precursor of oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort of participants living with/at-risk for HIV, with oral rinse and gargle samples collected every 6 to 12 months for up to 10 years and tested for oncHPV.

Prevalence of oral and blood oncogenic human papillomavirus biomarkers among an enriched screening population: Baseline results of the MOUTH study.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer screening is being explored in research studies, but strategies to identify an appropriate population are not established. The authors evaluated whether a screening population could be enriched for participants with oncogenic HPV biomarkers using risk factors for oral HPV.

Methods: Participants were enrolled at Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine.

Feasibility of clinical evaluation of individuals with increased risk for HPV-associated oropharynx cancer.

Background: Human papillomavirus-associated oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC) has no known pre-malignant lesion. While vaccination offers future primary prevention, there is current interest in secondary prevention. The feasibility of clinical evaluation of individuals at increased risk for HPV-OPSCC is unclear.

Association of Plasma Circulating Tumor HPV DNA With HPV-Related Oropharynx Cancer.

This cross-sectional analysis examines whether circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA is detectable in the plasma of healthy participants at risk for oral human papillomavirus infection and the agreement with oral rinse and serum biomarkers.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in head and neck cancers at tertiary care centers in the United States over time.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for a growing proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) among men and White individuals. Whether similar trends apply to women, non-Whites, and non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (non-OPSCCs) is unknown.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis combining 2 multi-institutional case series of incident head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases.

Biologic and behavioral associations of estrogen receptor alpha positivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Tumor HPV status is an established independent prognostic marker for oropharynx cancer (OPC). Recent studies have reported that tumor estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positivity is also associated with prognosis independent of HPV. Little is known about the biologic and behavioral predictors of ERα positivity in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

RTOG-0129 risk groups are reproducible in a prospective multicenter heterogeneously treated cohort.

Background: Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)-0129 has identified a low-risk group of patients with oropharynx cancer (OPC) who might benefit from therapeutic de-intensification. These risk groups have not yet been reproduced in an independent cohort treated heterogeneously. Therefore, the objective of this analysis was to validate the RPA risk groups and examine the prognostic impact of novel factors.

Timing, number, and type of sexual partners associated with risk of oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Case-control studies from the early 2000s demonstrated that human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is a distinct entity associated with number of oral sex partners. Using contemporary data, we investigated novel risk factors (sexual debut behaviors, exposure intensity, and relationship dynamics) and serological markers on odds of HPV-OPC.

Methods: HPV-OPC patients and frequency-matched controls were enrolled in a multicenter study from 2013 to 2018.

Long-term Persistence of Oral HPV Over 7 Years of Follow-up.

Background: Human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) incidence is increasing, but the natural history of the precursor-oral HPV-has not been well described.

Methods: This observational cohort study of people living with HIV and at-risk HIV uninfected people evaluated participants semiannually using 30-second oral rinse and gargle specimens over 7 years. Initially, 447 participants were followed for 4 years as part of the Persistent Oral Papillomavirus Study, and a subset of 128 who showed persistent infections at the last Persistent Oral Papillomavirus Study visit had an additional visit, as part of the Men and Women Understanding Throat HPV Study, on average 2.

Risk factors for human papillomavirus-positive nonoropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) is distinct from HPV-unassociated head and neck cancer. However, whether risk factors for HPV-positive oropharyngeal and nonoropharyngeal squamous cell cancer are the same is unclear.

Methods: Incident cases of HPV-positive head and neck cell cancer and matched non-cancer controls were enrolled in a multi-institutional, prospective study examining risk factors, biomarkers, and survival.

Distinct biomarker and behavioral profiles of human papillomavirus-related oropharynx cancer patients by age.

Background: HPV-positive oropharynx squamous cell cancer (HPV-OPC) patients were initially described as younger, however incidence has increased among older age-groups. It is unknown why some patients present at a younger age and others at a later age.

Methods: Multi-institutional prospective study of HPV-OPC cases (n = 163) and matched controls (n = 345) with detailed behavioral survey, and serum tested for HPV antibodies by fluorescent bead-based technology.

Evaluating the Utility and Prevalence of HPV Biomarkers in Oral Rinses and Serology for HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Performance of commercially available human papillomavirus (HPV) assays (approved for cervical HPV detection) is unknown for detecting HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). Assays for detection of HPV DNA [ELISA (DEIA) and Cobas], and RNA (Aptima) in oral rinse samples, and serum HPV oncogene antibodies were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of each test was explored among HPV-OPC cases and controls.

Priorities of human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer patients at diagnosis and after treatment.

Introduction: Little is known regarding how human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) patient goals change with treatment. This study evaluates whether patient ranking of non-oncologic priorities relative to cure and survival shift after treatment as compared to priorities at diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective study of HPV-OPC patient survey responses at diagnosis and after treatment.

Sex differences in HPV immunity among adults without cancer.

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers is rising, particularly among men. Whether observed epidemiological differences in sex are explained by differences in sexual exposure and/or by immune response is unclear. In this cross-sectional, multi-institutional study, seroprevalence of antibodies to HPV L1 capsid antigen was compared by patient characteristics among 374 adult patients without cancer.

Priorities, concerns, and regret among patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: In the era of deintensification, little data are available regarding patients' treatment preferences. The current study evaluated treatment-related priorities, concerns, and regret among patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).

Methods: A total of 150 patients with HNSCC ranked the importance of 10 nononcologic treatment goals relative to the oncologic goals of cure and survival.

Teen, Parent, and Clinician Expectations About Obesity and Related Conditions During the Annual Well-Child Visit.

Purpose: To examine family (patient and parent/guardian) and clinician preferences for identification and management of obesity and obesity-related conditions during the well-child visit.

Methods: Four focus groups with teen patients (n=16), four focus groups with parents (n=15), and one focus group with providers (n=12) were conducted using a structured moderator guide tailored to each specific population. Eligible patients had a well-child visit during the past 12 months and a diagnosis of overweight, obesity, hyperlipidemia, or elevated blood pressure.

Overweight adolescents and asthma: Revealing motivations and challenges with adolescent-provider communication.

Objective: Among teens with asthma, challenges of disease management may be greater in those with a body mass index (BMI) >85th percentile compared to youth within the parameters for normal weight-for-age. This mixed-methods study assessed teens' awareness of the link between weight and asthma management, and perspectives on how medical providers might open a discussion about managing weight.

Method: Teens aged 13-18, having BMI >85 percentile and chronic asthma, identified using health system databases and a staff email message board, were invited to complete a semi-structured, in-depth phone interview.