Trends in all-cause five-year mortality after head and neck cancers diagnosed over a period of 33 years. Focus on estimated degree of association with human papillomavirus

AbstractBackground: Factors influencing survival after head and neck cancer (HNC) include among others stage, age, and sex. More recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity has been described as a favorable prognostic factor in relation to some HNCs.Material and methods: In this nationwide register-based cohort study of all 20 925 individuals diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) in Denmark 1978–2010, we investigate secular trends in all-cause five-year mortality after HNSCC according to the anticipated degree of association with HPV using a Cox proportional hazards model. Furthermore, we examine whether any trend over time differed according to sex, stage, and age at diagnosis.Results: All-cause five-year mortality after HNSCC has decreased over time. The greatest decrease was seen in the last decade (2000–2010) among patients with HNSCC at sites estimated to be strongly associated with HPV, i.e. the base of the tongue and the tonsils, where a 28% decrease per five years...