LAUSR

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) accounts for over half of all head and neck cancers. Since the 1970s, OPSCC has shifted from an environmentally triggered to virally mediated disease due to a sharp rise in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related SCC. Although a highly effective prophylactic vaccine is available, its current implementation is far below national targets and OPSCC incidence is predicted to further increase by 2045. However, we believe that with prompt action now, we can not only defy these predictions, but effectively eradicate HPV-related OPSCC in these next 20 years. We herein provide an overview of the necessary elements to eliminate this disease: improved primary vaccine uptake, a one-time universal vaccination effort, and implementation of novel therapeutics that have potential to cure existing disease.