Narrative review discusses HPV-associated head and neck and cervical squamous cell carcinoma without reporting specific outcomes

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 5, 2026 Medically reviewed May 5, 2026 Study authors: Klára Plačková, Anna Fialová DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that this narrative review lacks reported outcomes or safety data for HPV-associated tumors.

This narrative review focuses on the scope of HPV-associated tumors, specifically head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The authors synthesize existing literature regarding these conditions without providing specific quantitative data from a primary trial. No sample size, intervention details, or comparator groups are reported in this source. The review does not present specific primary or secondary outcomes for analysis. Safety data, including adverse events and tolerability, are not reported within the provided text. The setting of the review is not reported, and follow-up duration is not reported. Funding sources and potential conflicts of interest are not reported. The authors do not provide specific limitations beyond the lack of reported data. Practice relevance is not reported in this narrative review. Causality is not established due to the review nature and lack of trial data. The certainty of any conclusions is limited by the absence of specific numerical results or study designs. Clinicians should interpret the qualitative arguments with caution given the lack of reported quantitative evidence.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus with oncogenic potential. Persistent infections with high-risk HPV genotypes can drive malignant transformation in multiple tissues, resulting in distinct HPV-associated cancers. This review provides an analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix (CESC). First, we briefly introduce the key aspects of HPV biology and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. We focus on the composition and functional states of immune cells within tumor tissues, highlighting how specific immune cells influence disease progression and clinical outcomes. By linking immunological features to patient prognosis, we outline the similarities and differences between the TME of HNSCC and CESC. Additionally, this review summarizes the current standards of care and emerging therapeutic strategies for patients with HPV-associated tumors. Altogether, by providing recent advances in the understanding of the TME of HPV-associated tumors, this review highlights the potential of targeting immune components within the tumor microenvironment for therapeutic benefit.

Narrative review discusses HPV-associated head and neck and cervical squamous cell carcinoma without reporting specific outcomes

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Narrative review discusses HPV-associated head and neck and cervical squamous cell carcinoma without reporting specific outcomes

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