Comprehensive Perspectives on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: HPV, Epidemiological Patterns, Diagnosis, Post-Treatment Challenges

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer, with the highest mortality rate. Traditional causes include smoking, alcohol consumption, tobacco use and betel chewing, while human papillomavirus (HPV) has recently emerged as an additional significant cause. Current challenges include a rising incidence in younger patients, variations in tumor location and biology, and early lesions that often resemble benign conditions, making timely diagnosis difficult. HPV-positive OSCC shows a better prognosis and treatment response due to the radiosensitivity of HPV-associated tumors. Researchers have developed an HPV-positive OSCC model to study the biological mechanisms of HPV-induced disease and to identify optimal treatment intensity with low toxicity and high efficiency. Furthermore, advances in medicine, such as the use of salivary biomarkers and artificial intelligence, promise to enhance diagnosis in the future. In addition to treatment, the issues of post-treatment life of patients need to be considered because patients often face mental and physical side effects for a long time after treatment. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of HPV in OSCC and examines factors such as age, gender, delayed diagnosis, emerging diagnostic methods, and the influence of post-treatment quality of life on OSCC overall.