Clinical Report: A New Way to Track HPV Cancer

Overview

A study presented at ASCO 2026 highlights the use of blood-based biomarkers for monitoring treatment response and detecting recurrence in HPV-associated head and neck cancer. The study reports high concordance between tumor-informed ctDNA and ctHPV DNA.

Background

HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma often has favorable outcomes, yet treatment can lead to significant long-term side effects. Improved monitoring tools are essential for assessing treatment response and early detection of recurrence, as current methods may lack the necessary sensitivity.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Both tumor-informed ctDNA and ctHPV DNA demonstrated 100% detection prior to treatment.
• Longitudinal samples showed 91% overall agreement between ctDNA and ctHPV DNA results.
• ctHPV DNA was detected at higher absolute levels compared to ctDNA.
• In cases where ctHPV DNA was positive but ctDNA was negative, this indicated earlier clearance of ctDNA during neoadjuvant treatment.

Clinical Implications

The study presents findings on the potential of blood-based biomarkers for monitoring treatment response and recurrence in HPV-associated head and neck cancers.

Conclusion

The findings from ASCO 2026 indicate that both ctDNA and ctHPV DNA are valuable in tracking treatment response in HPV-associated cancers.

Related Resources & Content

1. Sloane H, Quest Diagnostics, 2026 -- A New Way to Track HPV Cancer
2. SEOM–TTCC clinical guidelines for the treatment of head and neck cancer (2025)
3. Human Papillomavirus Testing in Head and Neck Carcinomas, College of American Pathologists
4. The ASCO Post — ASCO Urges Aggressive Efforts to Increase HPV Vaccination and Prevent Cancer
5. The ASCO Post — ASCO Supports NCI-Designated Cancer Centers’ Goal of Eliminating HPV-Related Cancers
6. The ASCO Post — Moving the Needle on HPV Vaccination
7. The ASCO Post — Expert Point of View: Quynh-Thu Le, MD, FACR, FASTRO Related Articles
8. ASCO Urges Aggressive Efforts to Increase HPV Vaccination and Prevent Cancer
9. ASCO Supports NCI-Designated Cancer Centers’ Goal of Eliminating HPV-Related Cancers
10. SEOM–TTCC clinical guidelines for the treatment of head and neck cancer (2025) | Clinical and Translational Oncology | Springer Nature Link
11. Human Papillomavirus Testing in… | College of American Pathologists
12. A Prospective Trial of Biomarker-Guided Surveillance for HPV-Positive Oropharynx Cancer Using Plasma Tumor Tissue-Modified Viral HPV DNA - PubMed
13. A Prospective Trial of Biomarker-Guided Surveillance for HPV-Positive Oropharynx Cancer Using Plasma Tumor Tissue–Modified Viral HPV DNA | Clinical Cancer Research | American Association for Cancer Research
14. Circulating HPV DNA for early detection of minimal residual disease after definitive therapy in oropharyngeal cancer: A phase II biomarker-driven study. | Journal of Clinical Oncology
15. Intrapatient comparative analysis of tumor-informed ctDNA and ctHPV-DNA in patients with HPV-driven OPSCC. | Journal of Clinical Oncology
16. Circulating tumor HPV DNA versus PET-CT for surveillance in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis | European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Springer Nature Link
17. Clinical validation of an HPV whole genome sequencing assay for molecular residual disease detection in HPV-associated head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery - PMC
18. Whole Genome HPV Liquid Biopsy for Pan-HPV-Associated Cancer Detection and Viral Physical State Classification | medRxiv
19. Negative Predictive Value of Circulating Tumor Tissue Modified Viral (TTMV)-HPV DNA for HPV-driven Oropharyngeal Cancer Surveillance - PMC
20. The Challenge and Promise of Circulating Tumor HPV DNA for Minimal Residual Disease Detection—Catching the Unseen | Oncology | JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery | JAMA Network