It is estimated that incidence of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) accounts for 6,50,000 patients globally, with mortality rate as high as 3,50,000 patients. In India, 56,000 patients are diagnosed with HNSCC every year. With 20% of all cancer cases, India is listed as the country with the highest prevalence of the disease. As compared to other countries, globally median age for various oropharyngeal cancers is 64 years while in India it is about 57 years.
However, a subgroup of people with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, cancer is developed at a comparatively younger age without getting exposed to the above factors. In turn, it gives rise to factors such as viral agents, diet and genetic predisposition as compared to major synergistic and dose dependent factors i.e. Tobacco chewing Alcohol consumption Smoking cigarettes. HPV is present in humans frequently, but only a…
