What is the link between HPV and laryngeal cancer?

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There are two types of HPV: non-oncogenic HPV, which causes warts, and oncogenic HPV, which can lead to cancer.

If a person contracts an oncogenic type of HPV that their immune system cannot get rid of, the infection may change cells over time, potentially causing those cells to become cancerous.

HPV is responsible for around 70% of throat cancers. However, it is unclear whether HPV alone can cause throat cancer or if an interaction between the virus and other factors, such as tobacco use, is the cause.

Studies suggest that HPV may increase a person’s risk of laryngeal cancer, although the degree of risk involved varies among sources.

Most HPV infections go away on their own, and the immune system is able to clear them from the body before they can cause changes that may lead to cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90% of HPV cases resolve within 2 years and do not cause health problems.

Although most cases of HPV do not lead to cancer, HPV is a common cause of various throat cancers. However, HPV may be more likely to contribute to throat cancers that develop in the back of the throat (the oropharynx) than in the larynx.

Studies suggest a wide range of HPV infection rates in people with laryngeal cancer. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the likelihood that HPV will lead to laryngeal cancer.

Here are some statistics from recent studies:

• A 2020 research review cites several studies that suggest that the HPV infection rate ranges from 3% to 85% in people with laryngeal cancer.
• A 2018 study cites research suggesting that the prevalence of laryngeal cancer in people who have had HPV ranges from 0% to 75%.
• A 2019 research review mentions studies suggesting that HPV infection rates in people with laryngeal cancer range from 8% to 83%.

What strains of HPV increase the risk of laryngeal cancer?

There are more than 100 types of HPV, and around 40 types of the virus can spread through sexual contact, including to the mouth and throat.

In total, 12 types of HPV are high risk and may lead to cancer. Of these, HPV 16 and HPV 18 are responsible for most types of cancers that HPV may cause, including throat cancers. Both HPV 16 and HPV 18 can be transmitted through sexual contact.

Researchers have not conclusively established HPV’s role in laryngeal cancer, but some believe that HPV may cause cancer in the throat in the same way that it causes cervical cancer.

The virus may infect and cause changes in the squamous cells that line the surfaces of the organs, potentially leading to a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. It may take several years, or even decades, for cancer to develop as a result of an HPV infection.

Researchers do not know whether the presence of HPV may affect the way a cancer metastasizes (spreads). A 2020 study suggests that cancer generally metastasizes at a similar rate whether HPV is present or not.

Various factors may affect a person’s outlook with laryngeal cancer, including the cancer stage and the part of the larynx in which the cancer develops.

Although more research is necessary to determine how HPV may affect laryngeal cancer, a 2023 study found that HPV did not seem to affect survival rates in people with head and neck cancers.

The study examined data from 87 people who enrolled between 2015 and 2019, with a follow-up in 2022. The data from the study suggests that HPV may not be a risk factor for mortality in head and neck cancers.

The 5-year relative survival rates for laryngeal cancer vary, depending on whether the cancer has spread and where it develops.

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rates for laryngeal cancer are as follows:

The relative survival rate suggests how long someone with a condition may live after their diagnosis compared with someone without the condition who is of the same race, sex, and age over a specific time. This is different from overall survival rate, which is the percentage of people still alive for a specific time after diagnosis of a condition.

It is most important to remember that these figures are estimates and that everyone is different. A person should talk with their doctor about their specific condition.

HPV does not typically cause symptoms, and most people with an HPV infection do not know they have it. The infection may cause painless lumps or growths in the affected area.

Throat cancer from HPV, such as laryngeal cancer, may cause symptoms such as:

• sore throat
• swollen neck
• swollen lymph nodes
• a persistent cough
• pain when swallowing
• a lump in the throat
• hoarseness
• ear pain
• persistent bad breath
• unplanned weight loss

The strains of HPV that doctors most often associate with cancer in the throat spread through sexual contact, such as oral sex.

A person can transmit HPV to someone else even if they have no symptoms of the infection.

There are no approved tests to diagnose HPV in the throat or mouth. A doctor may diagnose the infection by asking questions about a person’s medical history and symptoms and physically examining the throat.

A doctor may perform a biopsy, which involves taking a tissue sample from the throat and sending it to a laboratory for examination.

There is no treatment or cure for HPV. However, doctors can often treat health complications that result from HPV in the throat, such as laryngeal cancer.

Treatment for laryngeal cancer can include:

• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• surgery, such as laryngectomy
• targeted therapy, such as cetuximab
• immunotherapy

If a person has HPV in the throat, they can lower their risk of laryngeal cancer in various ways:

Avoiding or stopping alcohol and tobacco use

Alcohol and tobacco use are two of the main risk factors for laryngeal cancer. The more alcohol a person consumes and the more they smoke, the higher their risk of developing this cancer.

Reducing or stopping the use of these substances can significantly lower the risk of laryngeal cancer.

Avoiding exposure to harmful substances

Workplace exposure to harmful substances, such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and paint fumes, can increase a person’s risk of developing laryngeal cancer. Taking precautions to avoid exposure when possible can help reduce the risk of this cancer.

Maintaining a nutritious diet

A diet high in fried and highly processed foods and red meat may increase the risk of laryngeal cancer. People may be able to reduce their risk by maintaining a diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein sources, and healthy fats.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the HPV vaccine can prevent many types of HPV, including the seven types that most commonly lead to cancer. The vaccine may prevent up to 90% of cancers that HPV can cause, as well as other diseases that have an association with the virus.

The vaccination is most effective when a person receives it between 9 and 12 years of age.

A person can also reduce their risk of contracting HPV by using condoms or another barrier method during sex.

Contracting a high risk type of HPV in the throat may increase a person’s risk of developing laryngeal cancer. However, more research is necessary to determine how and to what extent HPV in the throat may contribute to this risk.

Getting vaccinated against HPV and using condoms or another barrier method during sex can help prevent HPV transmission. A person can reduce their risk of laryngeal cancer by reducing or stopping alcohol and tobacco use, maintaining a nutritious diet, and avoiding exposure to harmful substances.