Contribution of human papilloma virus to the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in a European population with high smoking prevalence

Background: Increases in incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in countries with falling tobacco use have been attributed to a growing role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the carcinogenesis. Trends of HPV prevalence in populations with persistently high portions of smokers are poorly characterised. Patients and methods: Registry data from East Germany were used to determine incidence trends between 1998 and 2011. Data from patients treated at the ChariteUniversity Medicine Berlin between 2004 and 2013 (cohort 1, N = 436) were used for estimation of trends in HPV