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Cancers
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Advances in Virus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer
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Advances in Virus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Agents and Cancer".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 May 2025) | Viewed by 4489

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Joanna Katarzyna Strzelczyk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Interests: molecular biology; genetics; epigenetics, head and neck cancers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The incidence of head and neck cancers has escalated in the past few decades. Previously, alcohol and tobacco were considered the primary contributors, but the oncogenic viruses are now also recognized to be a leading cause of these tumors. Viral-associated cancers are an individual group of malignancies with a distinct pathogenesis. There is an urgent need to better understand the biological status of onco-viruses in course of head and neck cancers to aid in prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is on the list of onco-viruses that cause the head and neck cancers. Multiple HPV genotypes have been identified of which, HPV 16 is the most prevalent. The accurate impact of different HPV genotypes on cancerogenesis remains unclear. Understanding the factors that drive persistence and head and neck cancers development may help to nominate biomarkers that identify individuals at high risk for head and neck cancers and could act as surrogate markers for premalignant lesions.

In summary, prolonged viral infection, especially in conjunction with immunosuppression, likely drives carcinogenesis. Early detection of precancer, including carcinoma-in-situ, will allow diagnosis before tumor spread, allowing safe delivery of monotherapy with less treatment-associated morbidities while maintaining high curability rates. Furthermore, in-depth information on how viral infection progresses to precancer is needed to develop therapies that prevent malignant transformation.

This Special Issue aims to highlight some of the advances achieved in our understanding of virus-associated head and neck cancers from the perspectives of epidemiology, carcinogenesis, development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Joanna Katarzyna Strzelczyk
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • onco-virus
  • virus-associated cancer
  • head and neck cancers
  • diagnosis
  • pathogenesis
  • epidemiology
  • prevalence
  • treatment
  • HPV
  • EBV

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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34 pages, 2071 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of Young Adults’ Awareness and Knowledge Related to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Oropharyngeal Cancer, and the HPV Vaccine
by Eric N. Davis and Philip C. Doyle
Cancers 2025, 17(3), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17030344 - 21 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection that is a known cause of morbidities such as genital warts and cancers of the cervix, anus, and oropharynx. Non-cervical HPV-related cancers have been a developing problem in North America, increasing in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection that is a known cause of morbidities such as genital warts and cancers of the cervix, anus, and oropharynx. Non-cervical HPV-related cancers have been a developing problem in North America, increasing in incidence by up to 225% in some instances over a span of two decades. Methods: This study investigated levels of awareness and knowledge of HPV, oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and the HPV vaccine using a self-administered web-based survey designed specifically for this research. University students (n = 1005) aged 18–30 completed a 42-item questionnaire that included demographic information, awareness questions, and a series of “true/false/I don’t know” knowledge questions. Results: The data gathered revealed that participants had relatively high levels of awareness. However, many respondents had significant gaps in their knowledge of HPV, OPC, and the HPV vaccine. Collectively, the data indicate that awareness and knowledge of HPV and the value of vaccination may place younger individuals at risk for HPV-related infections. Conclusions: Although a relatively high level of awareness concerning HPV was observed, the gaps in knowledge suggest that further efforts are necessary to educate young adults. While all risk factors cannot be reduced, the present data may guide future efforts directed toward better education on HPV and related health concerns and associated risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Virus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer)
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Review

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27 pages, 1388 KiB  
Review
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Human Cytomegalovirus Co-Infection: A Potential Link Between Periodontal Disease and Oral Cancer Development
by Rancés Blanco and Juan P. Muñoz
Cancers 2025, 17(9), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17091525 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 232
Abstract
Periodontal disease (PD) is an inflammatory condition that can contribute to the development of oral cancer. Chronic inflammation from PD can lead to the release of inflammatory mediators and growth factors that promote tumorigenesis. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is one of [...] Read more.
Periodontal disease (PD) is an inflammatory condition that can contribute to the development of oral cancer. Chronic inflammation from PD can lead to the release of inflammatory mediators and growth factors that promote tumorigenesis. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is one of several pathogens implicated in PD and its potential link to oral cancer. However, other viral infections, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), can also contribute to chronic inflammation, creating a favorable environment for oral cancer development. Objectives: The present literature review tries to investigate the possible influence of P. gingivalis and HCMV co-infection in fostering the development of oral cancer and chronic periodontitis. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on the relevance and significance of articles that examine the role of P. gingivalis and HCMV in periodontal disease and oral cancer. Results: The evidence suggests that P. gingivalis and HCMV may act synergistically to modulate host immunity, disrupt epithelial integrity, and interfere with key cellular pathways. These interactions may enhance tissue destruction and foster a microenvironment conducive to malignant transformation. However, most of these findings stem from in vitro models and small-scale clinical studies, limiting the generalizability and clinical relevance of current conclusions. Conclusions: Although the proposed interaction between P. gingivalis and HCMV provides a compelling framework for understanding how microbial co-infections may influence oral cancer, the evidence remains preliminary and largely associative. To support these mechanistic hypotheses, future studies should give top priority to in vivo models, bigger patient cohorts, and longitudinal clinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Virus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer)
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11 pages, 476 KiB  
Review
Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Papillomavirus Status Prediction for Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Scoping Review
by Andrea Migliorelli, Marianna Manuelli, Andrea Ciorba, Francesco Stomeo, Stefano Pelucchi and Chiara Bianchini
Cancers 2024, 16(23), 4040; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16234040 - 2 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1213
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is sexually transmitted and commonly widespread in the head and neck region; however, its role in tumor development and prognosis has only been demonstrated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC). The aim of this review is to analyze the [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is sexually transmitted and commonly widespread in the head and neck region; however, its role in tumor development and prognosis has only been demonstrated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC). The aim of this review is to analyze the results of the most recent literature that has investigated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a method for discerning HPV-positive from HPV-negative OPSCC tumors. A review of the literature was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, according to PRISMA for scoping review criteria (from 2017 to July 2024). A total of 15 articles and 4063 patients have been included. Eleven studies analyzed the role of radiomics, and four analyzed the role of AI in determining HPV histological positivity. The results of this scoping review indicate that AI has the potential to play a role in predicting HPV positivity or negativity in OPSCC. Further studies are required to confirm these results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Virus-Associated Head and Neck Cancer)
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