Clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic human papilloma virus-positive head and neck cancer

Background: There are few data regarding the role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out using our electronic medical record (EPIC) for all patients diagnosed with HPV-positive R/M HNSCC between 2010 and 2014 with minimum of 6 months of follow-up in order to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: We assessed 11 patients who underwent a variety of treatments. PFS and OS were 7 and 34+ months, respectively. Four patients (36%) were still alive and diseasefree (median OS of 39+ months). Three disease-free patients had been treated with taxane, platinum and 5-fluorouracil as aggressive curative systemic therapy. Another patient treated with TPF was disease-free for 25 months and died of disease at 42 months. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates favorable prognosis for patients with HPV-positive R/M HNSCC and that aggressive systemic treatment can lead to a prolonged disease-free period or possibly cure, even after metastasis.