Profiles of Expression in HPV+ Versus HPV Head and Neck Cancers

Squamous cell cancers of the head and neck are classically correlated to excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco and have a rather poor prognosis. However, the incidence of Head and Neck cancers in patients without alcohol-smoking risk factor has continued to increase in recent years, in relation to more and more frequent HPV contamination. Some studies show a difference in the expression of certain genes within the two groups of tumors (HPV+ and HPV-) including some that confer sensitivity to certain chemotherapies and others to radiotherapy. However, patients with HPV+ Head and Neck cancers are treated according to the same referential as HPV- Head and Neck cancers. There is therefore a real need for studies identifying predictive markers in order to be able to offer patients a more effective suitable and less invasive treatment.