Current Status of Vaccine of Human Papillomavirus-positive Patients with Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract The oropharynx is amongst the most common sites of cancer in Indian male population. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes approximately 5% of cancers worldwide. HPV-positive patients (12–16 HPV genotypes) with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) of the tonsil and base of the tongue are increasing significantly not only in India but also in the USA and some European countries. The abovementioned facts were the driving force to conduct this present study. The aims of the present were (1) To know the relationship between the HPV vaccination and the incidence of OPC in men and (2) Can pan-gender HPV vaccination reduce the incidence of HPV patients with OPC. The study reviewed the literature using MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar. The English language articles having abstracts were included on 28 March 2024. The study investigated the effect of HPV vaccination on the incidence and prevalence of HPV-positive men with OPC in the last 3 years (January 2021 to December 2023). The current study observed HPV vaccination reducing the oral HPV positivity in men and indicating the decreased risk of developing HPV-positive patients with not only OPC but also other HPV-associated head-and-neck cancers. The study found that the introduction of pan-gender HPV vaccination can reduce the incidences of HPV-positive men with OPC. Therefore, HPV vaccination in pre-teens, early teens and young boys can prevent not only HPV-positive men with OPC but also other cancers of head-and-neck regions.