HPV Awareness, Early Detection and Treatment

This workstream focuses on HPV awareness, early detection, prevention, and treatment of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, also known as HPV-related OPSCC.

Project leads

Portrait photo of Dr Shaun Lau
Shaun Lau

Honorary Research Fellow

Div of Surgery & Interventional Sci

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Mr Umar Rehman, BMBS, MSc, BSc, PGCME, MRCS (Eng)

PhD Student and Clinical Research Fellow

UCL Cancer Institute

Team members

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Ms Yujia Liu

PhD student

Why this matters 

HPV-related OPSCC is one of the fastest-rising cancers in many high-income countries. Although HPV vaccination is available, public awareness of the link between HPV and throat cancer remains limited. 

Improving awareness, prevention, and early detection is essential to reduce future cancer burden. 

Our aims 

We aim to: 

  • Improve public understanding of HPV and its link to oropharyngeal cancer.
  • Identify barriers to HPV vaccination and awareness.
  • Support prevention strategies across different populations.
  • Develop approaches for early detection of HPV-related OPSCC.
  • Understand the future healthcare and societal burden of HPV-related disease.
  • Inform public health policy and education campaigns.  

UK burden and projected impact 

Our work shows the following:  

  • The incidence of OPSCC has risen substantially over recent decades and is projected to continue increasing. Between 2010 and 2020, OPSCC rates increased by a factor of 2.1, and projections suggest they may more than double again between 2020 and 2039.
  • The economic impact is also significant. Workplace productivity losses due to OPSCC in the UK were estimated at £531 million annually in 2016. The cost of treating OPSCC in men alone over the next 15 years is projected to reach a cumulative £1.6 billion, with wider societal costs expected to reach £14.3 billion between 2025 and 2039. 

Key research areas 

Public awareness 

Our research published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, Clinical and Translational Medicine and the International Journal of Cancer, has shown that awareness of HPV and its link to throat cancer remains low in several countries including the UK, US and Denmark. Awareness can vary by sex, education, geography, and access to health information. We are currently finalising an international study from 15 countries.  

Prevention 

We study how HPV vaccination, public health messaging, and education can help reduce the future burden of HPV-related cancers. 

Early detection 

We are working on research to support earlier identification of HPV-related OPSCC, with the long-term goal of improving outcomes and reducing treatment burden. 

Health economics 

Our work also examines the projected cost of HPV-related OPSCC to healthcare systems and wider society, highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention. 

Impact 

This workstream aims to improve awareness, increase prevention, support early detection, and reduce the future burden of HPV-related head and neck cancer. 

Key Publications  

  1. Lechner M, et al. HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022;19(5):306-327.
  2. Chakravarthy A, et al. Integrated Analysis of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cohorts from Three Continents Reveals Conserved Subtypes of Prognostic Significance. Nat Commun. 2022;13(1):5818.
  3. Lechner M, et al. Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccination in the UK, Rising Male Oropharyngeal Cancer Rates, and Lack of HPV Awareness. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019;19(2):131-132.
  4. Jones OS, Vassie C, Gilson R, Lechner M. Until Eradication, Awareness. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017;17(4):368-369.
  5. Masterson L, O’Mahony J, Lechner M. Expanding the Benefits of HPV Vaccination to Boys and Men. Lancet. 2017;388(10063):2992.
  6. Masterson L, Lechner M. Health Policy: HPV Vaccination in Boys – Will the UK Join the Fight? Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2016;13(12):721-722.
  7. Frampton GM, Fichtenholt A, Otto GA … Cronin MT, Stephens PJ, Lipson D, Yelensky R. Development and Validation of a Clinical Cancer Genomic Profiling Test Based on Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing. Nat Biotechnol. 2013.
  8. Zarahoff NA, Emanuel O, Rehman U … Kirsch C, Klussmann JP, Beale T, Lechner M, Morley S. Radiological Features of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Positive and HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC): Considerations for Multimodal Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2026;18(10):1648.
  9. Rehman U, Liu J, Oakley R … Holsinger FC, Masterson L, Lechner M. Rapidly Rising Rates of Oropharyngeal Cancer and Economic Burden in the UK. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025;25(5):e255. Erratum in: Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Mar 31:S1473-3099(25)00228-2.
  10. Lechner M, et al. Early Detection of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer. Lancet. 2019;393(10186):2123.

Sponsors