Cell-free human papillomavirus DNA kinetics after surgery for human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
Connor J O'BoyleGiulia SiravegnaShohreh VarmehNatalia QueenanAlexa MichelKim Chang Sing PangJarrod SteinJulia C ThieraufPeter M SadowWilliam C FaquinWei WangDaniel G DeschlerKevin S EmerickMark A VarvaresJong Chul ParkJohn R ClarkAnnie W ChanPaul M BusseRyan B CorcoranLori J WirthDerrick T LinA John IafrateJeremy D RichmonDaniel L FadenPublished in: Cancer (2022)
Human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+OPSCC) is increasing at epidemic proportions and is commonly treated with surgery. This report describes results from a study examining the clearance kinetics of circulating tumor HPV DNA (circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA [ctHPVDNA]) following surgical treatment of HPV+OPSCC. We found that ctHPVDNA levels 1 day after surgery are associated with the risk of residual disease in patients with HPV+OPSCC and thus could be used as a personalized biomarker for selecting adjuvant treatment in the future. These findings are the first to demonstrate the potential utility of ctHPVDNA in patients with HPV+OPSCC undergoing surgery.