Latent human papillomavirus type 16 infection is widespread in patients with oropharyngeal cancers

Most oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OSCC) are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), primarily HPV16 [1]. HPVs also establish latent infections that can be activated to cause disease [2,3]. The immune system plays a key role in controlling or eliminating viral infections. However, HPVs can circumvent immune control, especially in susceptible patients [4] and patients with HPV-induced recurrent respiratory papillomatosis have a systemic immunologic failure to control latent reactivation [5].

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