Direct Comparison of Alternative Blood-Based Approaches for Early Detection and Diagnosis of HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancers

HPV WGS-based ctHPVDNA detection demonstrated the highest sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy and thus the lowest number needed to screen and highest positive predictive value compared with ddPCR-based ctHPVDNA detection, HPV Ab-based detection, and combinatorial approaches. These results highlight the promise of HPV WGS liquid biopsy for screening and early detection of HPV + HNSCC and the need for modeling and cost-effectiveness studies to evaluate and guide screening implementation. See related commentary by Haring et al., p. 3359 See related article by Sim et al., p. 3494.