Non-surgical treatment is increasingly effective for HPV-positive throat cancer, which responds well to radiation and chemotherapy. Avoiding surgery can reduce long-term side effects and improve quality of life for patients who are likely long-term survivors.
Radiation therapy remains a cornerstone, with advances in de-escalated dosing that maintain effectiveness while minimizing debilitating side effects. Chemotherapy, alone or combined with radiation, can control tumor growth or shrink tumors prior to other treatments. Immunotherapy, using checkpoint inhibitors, is an emerging option, currently applied for recurrent or metastatic disease, with trials exploring its role in primary treatment.
Clinical trials are evaluating reduced-dose radiation, chemoradiation, immunotherapy combinations, and proton beam therapy to determine which patients can safely avoid surgery. By preventing invasive surgery, patients can preserve swallowing, speech, and appearance, avoiding feeding tubes and chronic dysphagia, while maintaining cancer control—highlighting a shift toward personalized, less invasive care for HPV-positive throat