Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

The rationale for this study proposal is derived from previous case series demonstrating that up to 60% of patients with HNSCC, especially in the oropharynx are associated with high risk HPV infection. In this study, we will characterize the association between HPV infection and HNSCC in Israel and establish a program for its diagnosis and management based on HPV as a biomarker. The rationale for the proposed research is that once it is known which types of HPV are associated with HNSCC, this information can be used to direct diagnosis and screening effort to high risk population. Our approach is based on establishing a multicenter consortium of leading researchers that will establish a joint database of demographic, clinical and biological data from various regions in Israel. For this we have assembled a multidisciplinary research team with the scope and breath (surgical oncology, pathology, virology and molecular biology) needed to complete all phases of the research successfully. The research will be coordinated and performed at the Applied Cancer Research Laboratory, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The patients will be recruited from 7 tertiary medical centers in Israel: Ichilov, Bellinson, Hadassa, Rambam, Soroka, Sheba and Nazeret..