The Incidence and Survival of HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Malignant Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) in the United States: A Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results SEER 2000-2022 Database Analysis
Author(s)
Dimitrije Grbic, PhD (c), Filip Stanicic, PhD (c), Vlad Zah, DPhil.
ZRx Outcomes Research, Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada.
ZRx Outcomes Research, Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER, released April 2025) data was used to compare the burden of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the US.
METHODS: Data from 17 cancer registries (2000-2022) were analyzed with SEER*Stat. The population involved malignant HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC. Outcomes were crude incidence (per 100,000 population) and 4-year survival rates.
RESULTS: 4,220 HPV-positive and 692 HPV-negative HNSCC patients were analyzed. The most common was the oropharynx (99.12% in HPV-positive and 96.5% in HPV-negative). Most HPV-positive patients were 20-64 years old (55.14%), and the HPV-negative patients were 65+ years old (52.31%). HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients were predominantly males (87.54% and 70.09%), non-Hispanic Whites (84.15% and 74.57%), metropolitan county residents (86.73% and 83.09%), and had $65,000-90,000 annual household income (AHI) (41.02% and 41.04%). HPV-positive HNSCC had a higher incidence (0.22 vs. 0.04). Across population subgroups, higher rates of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC were observed in elderly (0.77 and 0.15), males (0.39 and 0.05), non-Hispanic Whites (0.34 and 0.05), and non-metropolitan residents (0.29 and 0.06). The highest incidence of HPV-positive HNSCC had a $120,000+ AHI category (0.43), while <$40,000 AHI category among HPV-negatives (0.07). Incidence increased between 2018 and 2022 for HPV-positive (0.60 to 2.37) and HPV-negative HNSCC (0.13 to 0.37). HPV-positive HNSCC had higher survival (80.8% vs. 43.4%). HPV-positive and HPV-negative patient rates were lower in older patients, males (80.0% and 42.5%), and non-metropolitan county residents (75.6% and 38.7%). Regarding other subgroups, the lowest survival in HPV-positive cohort had Non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives (63.3%) and $50,000-55,000 AHI (71.9%). The lowest rates among HPV-negative patients had Hispanics (29.3%) and $95,000-100,000 AHI (28.2%).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate HPV-positive as a more frequent HNSCC type in the US but with a better prognosis. Increasing incidence trends are concerning, indicating the need for novel treatments.
METHODS: Data from 17 cancer registries (2000-2022) were analyzed with SEER*Stat. The population involved malignant HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC. Outcomes were crude incidence (per 100,000 population) and 4-year survival rates.
RESULTS: 4,220 HPV-positive and 692 HPV-negative HNSCC patients were analyzed. The most common was the oropharynx (99.12% in HPV-positive and 96.5% in HPV-negative). Most HPV-positive patients were 20-64 years old (55.14%), and the HPV-negative patients were 65+ years old (52.31%). HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients were predominantly males (87.54% and 70.09%), non-Hispanic Whites (84.15% and 74.57%), metropolitan county residents (86.73% and 83.09%), and had $65,000-90,000 annual household income (AHI) (41.02% and 41.04%). HPV-positive HNSCC had a higher incidence (0.22 vs. 0.04). Across population subgroups, higher rates of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC were observed in elderly (0.77 and 0.15), males (0.39 and 0.05), non-Hispanic Whites (0.34 and 0.05), and non-metropolitan residents (0.29 and 0.06). The highest incidence of HPV-positive HNSCC had a $120,000+ AHI category (0.43), while <$40,000 AHI category among HPV-negatives (0.07). Incidence increased between 2018 and 2022 for HPV-positive (0.60 to 2.37) and HPV-negative HNSCC (0.13 to 0.37). HPV-positive HNSCC had higher survival (80.8% vs. 43.4%). HPV-positive and HPV-negative patient rates were lower in older patients, males (80.0% and 42.5%), and non-metropolitan county residents (75.6% and 38.7%). Regarding other subgroups, the lowest survival in HPV-positive cohort had Non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives (63.3%) and $50,000-55,000 AHI (71.9%). The lowest rates among HPV-negative patients had Hispanics (29.3%) and $95,000-100,000 AHI (28.2%).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate HPV-positive as a more frequent HNSCC type in the US but with a better prognosis. Increasing incidence trends are concerning, indicating the need for novel treatments.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH243
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
Oncology