Updated Estimates of Patients With Oropharyngeal Cancer in the US

What do the latest US data reveal about oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) epidemiology?This cross-sectional study of 103 107 new OPC cases recorded from 2006 to 2021 found that OPC incidence increased overall, with the sharpest increase among older adults (ie, aged ≥65 years). OPC prevalence also increased during this period, with a 69.2% 5-year period survival rate, yet many older patients with localized disease received no treatment.This study found that the incidence of OPC has increased among older patients, and although improved treatments may account for the increased prevalence and 5-year survival rate, localized disease in such patients appears to be undertreated, suggesting that further research is needed for optimal patient outcomes.

Corresponding Author: Nancy Y. Lee, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, PO Box 22, New York, NY 10065 (leen2@mskcc.org).

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