Across cohorts, ctHPV-DNA mirrors tumor burden, clears with effective therapy, and often signals recurrence months before radiologic confirmation. Two consecutive positive tests may identify relapse and justify targeted imaging, whereas persistently negative serial tests provide strong reassurance. Although prognostic, the clinical benefit of ctHPV-DNA - guided management remains to be proven in prospective randomized trials. Standardization of assays and integration with imaging workflows will determine whether molecularly anchored surveillance becomes a quality benchmark in HPV-associated OPSCC care.
Tinhofer et al. (2026) studied this question.