Treatment of Patients With HPV Associated Locally Advanced Oropharynx Cancer

Barbara A. Burtness, MD, professor of medicine, clinical research program leader, Head and Neck Cancers Program, co-director, Developmental Therapeutics Research Program, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the treatment of patients with HPV associated locally advanced oropharynx cancer.

Burtness stated that patients were treated with induction chemotherapy, and if they showed a clinical complete response, then they were treated with a substantial reduction in radiation dosage.

The biggest adverse effect was difficulty swallowing solids, but other adverse effects included difficulty swallowing liquids, and reduction in general pain.