**3. Clinical characteristics of HPV associated oropharyngeal cancer**

HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Squamous cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) has different demographic and biological features when compared to HPV negative cancers [6]. These patients tend to be younger, with little or no tobacco exposure, and associated with certain sexual behaviors like oral sex. They have different molecular alterations. **Table 1** shows a comparison between clinical and biological profiles of HPV positive and HPV negative oropharyngeal carcinoma. The synergetic mechanism of HPV with tobacco and alcohol is unknown. The subset of OPSCC patients with significant smoking history may harbor TP53 and EGFR mutations and their outcomes are similar to HPV negative head and neck cancers.


#### **Table 1.**

*Major differences between HPV positive and negative oropharyngeal cancers.*

*Human Papillomavirus Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma-Diagnosis and Management DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96234*
