Does Human Papillomavirus Infection Influence the Frequency and Severity of Nutritional Disorders in Head and Neck Cancer?

Abstract

Background: About 87% of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients (mostly oropharyngeal cancer—OPC) are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). Recent studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between HPV infection and nutritional disorders in HNC patients. Therefore, we formed a hypothesis that nutritional disorders or their severity in HNC patients may be associated with the occurrence of HPV infection due to known molecular differences in involved tissue. This literature review aimed to evaluate the influence of HPV infection on the occurrence and severity of nutritional disorders in HNC patients. Materials and Methods: The PubMed database was used to search papers with the keywords “HPV”, “HNC”, and “nutritional disorders” in different variants and combinations. Conclusions: The data available in the discussed papers indicate, among other things, that HPV−positive patients may be at higher risk of malnutrition, critical weight loss, and necessity for gastrostomy after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (C-RT). It should be highlighted that despite some studies demonstrating positive results, currently available data regarding the influence of HPV infection on the occurrence and severity of nutritional disorders in HNC remain limited and inconclusive, and thus further research on this issue is warranted.