Worldwide, the prevalence of head-and-neck cancers is on the rise in both developed and developing countries. Historically, these diseases have been caused most often by tobacco or alcohol use. But increasingly, they are the result of an oral HPV infection (50-70% in the US due, in part, to decreasing numbers of smokers and increasing rates of oral HPV).

Head-and-neck cancers have a high mortality rate, and the treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy) are aggressive and debilitating. HPV-related head-and-neck cancers have a better prognosis than non-HPV-related cases, so it is of critical importance to determine whether or not HPV is a causal factor. The OncoE6™ Oral Test accomplishes that; if it is positive, the cancer is caused by HPV and a less harsh treatment may possibly be warranted. 

The OncoE6™ Oral Test has been used by clinical researchers at Hamilton University / St. Joseph Healthcare, ON, Canada, and by a prominent group in the field at the German Cancer Research Center. These studies have demonstrated that the OncoE6™ Oral Test can determine accurately whether or not a head-and-neck cancer is driven by HPV. These outcomes have been presented at intentional scientific conferences, and are pending publication.