REVIEW   

Otorhinolaryngology 2022 December;72(4):184-97

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6302.22.02448-3

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Treatment advances in the management of oropharyngeal carcinoma: from minimally invasive surgery to target radiotherapy

Andrea COSTANTINO ^{1, 2}, Gian M. PACE ^{1, 2} ✉, Bianca M. FESTA ^{1, 2}, Fabio FERRELI ^{1, 2}, Luca MALVEZZI ², Giovanni COLOMBO ², Giuseppe SPRIANO ^{1, 2}, Giuseppe MERCANTE ^{1, 2}, Armando DE VIRGILIO ^{1, 2}

¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; ² Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

The oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma showed a remarkably growing incidence in the last years. At the same time, the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection emerged as a major etiologic and positive prognostic factor. New treatment advances consisting of minimally invasive transoral surgery and target radiotherapy have been powerfully introduced in the clinical practice to reduce treatment morbidity. In this context, several de-escalation trials have been proposed to reduce acute and chronic treatment related morbidity, while maintaining the enhanced survival of HPV-positive tumors. The aim of this paper is to summarize the current literature evidence on oropharyngeal cancer management with particular focus on new treatment advances and protocols.

KEY WORDS: Oropharynx; Head and neck neoplasms; Surgery; Radiotherapy; Papillomaviridae; Survival