According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a form of human papillomavirus (HPV) is correlated with approximately one-third of throat cancers.  In a study of 638 participants with head and neck cancer, the strain of HPV known as HPV16 was present in 34.8 percent of participants with oropharyngeal cancer.  It was not associated with other sites of head and neck cancer.  HPV16 was present 10 years or more before the person was diagnosed with throat cancer.

The study took blood samples when participants joined.  If they found antibodies to a protein called E6, they knew that the person had been infected with HPV16 and the body tried to fight it.  E6 is known to attack and take out a portion of the protection system for cells and that protection system helps prevent cancer.  By being infected with HPV16 and the protein E6 developing, there is a greater chance for cancer.  Of those with oropharyngeal cancer, 35.8 percent had the antibodies to E6 and 0.6 percent of the control population, consisting of 1,599 cancer-free patients, had the antibodies.

While there is a greater likelihood of developing throat cancer after being infected with HPV16, it is still unclear as to why it is not associated with other types of cancer.  Fortunately, there is also a greater likelihood of surviving cancer if it was developed as a result of HPV16.  Five years after diagnosis, 84 percent of individuals with HPV16 and throat cancer were still alive, as compared to only 58 percent of those with throat cancer from other causes.  Movie star Michael Douglas recently spoke out about his own throat cancer, linked to HPV 16.  He survived despite the cancer not being found until it was in Stage IV.

Oropharyngeal cancer, also known as throat cancer, affects the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat or pharynx.  It is behind the mouth and contains the back third of the tongue, the soft palate, the tonsils, and the side and back walls of the throat.  In addition to HPV16, tobacco products and excessive alcohol use increase the risk of throat cancer.

There are more than 100 variations of HPV, but most infections do not lead to cancer.  For the strains that are most likely to cause cervical cancer or genital warts, vaccines have been developed.  These strains account for more than 70 percent of cervical cancers and the majority of other cancers attributable to HPV.  Considering all variation of HPV, it is the most common sexually transmitted infection.  For sexually active people, 90 percent will get HPV at some point by the age of 25.