New Zealand cancer registry data were retrospectively analysed from all incident cases with a histological diagnosis of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the oral cavity or oropharynx. The study sought to determine whether the incidence of oropharyngeal and oral cavity squamous cell cancers differs by sub-site, age, gender, ethnicity and social deprivation. Between 1981 and 2010, rates of oropharyngeal cancers and oral cavity cancers were higher among males and increased with age. A rapid rise in male oropharyngeal cancers was observed among those aged ≥40 years. Overall and by gender, Māori had higher oropharyngeal cancer rates but lower oral cavity cancer rates than European/other ethnicities, whereas the inverse was apparent among Pacific Peoples. An upward trend in oropharyngeal cancer and oral cavity cancer rates with increasing deprivation was observed both overall and by gender. The study researchers point out that the strong association between the human papillomavirus (HPV)and the development of oropharyngeal SCC suggests that HPV vaccination and public health awareness may help to prevent oropharyngeal cancer. HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers respond to radiotherapy, which is expected to improve survival rates.
