The recent link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and a subset of head and neck cancers has ushered in new opportunities for the realization of personalized medicine. Advancements in the field continue to move at a rapid pace as the epidemiology of oral HPV infection and optimal detection methods for diagnosing the disease are better understood. Based on the distinct biology and pathogenesis of HPV-associated head and neck cancers, improved survival rates for patients with head and neck cancer are being observed for the first time in 40 years, and the field is transitioning into a new phase in which the focus is not only on achieving cure but also on improving the quality of life of these young head and neck cancer survivors. The importance of immune surveillance as a primary defense mechanism against cancer development is highlighted in HPV-related cancers. As increasing research efforts are made toward understanding the failed host immune responses against these virus-related cancers, strategies to reverse host immune tolerance and/or enhance immune recognition of these cancers can be evaluated. In the near future, HPV status undoubtedly will not only provide prognostic information but also guide treatment decisions, which will represent a tangible example of customizing health care based on the individual patient and the biology of his or her tumor.
The collection of authors contributing to this issue of Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America highlights the importance of multidisciplinary care in medicine and provides a detailed overview of state-of-the-art concepts in managing HPV-related head and neck cancer patients as practiced at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. We hope this volume helps to inspire open, educated communication among all practitioners who care for head and neck cancer patients, so that our shared goal of achieving the best possible care for patients is realized.
This issue is dedicated to our patients, who have participated in and supported all of our research endeavors to deliver personalized medicine to the next generation.
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