Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Treating HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Recent advances in immunotherapeutic approaches have spanned different tumor types including head and neck cancer. HPV-related head and Neck Cancers are virally driven tumors with notable immune characteristics and recent advances in immune targeting that desrve a closer examination. We aimed in this comprehensive review to offer a description of recent advances in immunotherapeutic applications in this disease. ABSTRACT: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common malignancy, with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) accounting for a majority of cases in the western world. While HNC accounts for only 5% of all cancers in the United States, the incidence of a subset of OPSCC caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is increasing rapidly. The treatment for OPSCC is multifaceted, with a recently emerging focus on immunotherapeutic approaches. With the increased incidence of HPV-related OPSCC and the approval of immunotherapy in the management of recurrent and metastatic HNC, there has been rising interest in exploring the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of HPV-related OPSCC specifically. The immune microenvironment in HPV-related disease is distinct from that in HPV-negative OPSCC, which has prompted further research into various immunotherapeutics. This review focuses on HPV-related OPSCC, its immune characteristics, and current challenges and future opportunities for immunotherapeutic applications in this virus-driven cancer.