Abstract
This review examines the general cellular and molecular underpinnings of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related carcinogenesis in the context of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and focuses on HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in areas for which specific data is available. It covers the major pathways dysregulated in HPV-positive HNSCC and the genome-wide changes associated with this disease.