Oropharyngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the oropharynx.

The oropharynx is the middle part of the pharynx (throat) behind the mouth, and includes the back one-third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils. The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach). Air and food pass through the pharynx on the way to the trachea or the esophagus.


Anatomy of the pharynx.

The three parts of the pharynx are the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx.
Most oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cells are the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the oropharynx.Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer.

Use of tobacco products and drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer.

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer include the following:   

• Smoking and chewing tobacco.
• Heavy alcohol use.   
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables.
• Drinking maté, a stimulant drink common in South America.
• Chewing betel quid, a stimulant commonly used in parts of Asia.
• Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV).

Signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer include a lump in the neck and a sore throat.

These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by oropharyngeal cancer or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:   

• A sore throat that does not go away.
• A dull pain behind the breastbone.
• Cough.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Weight loss for no known reason.
• Ear pain.
• A lump in the back of the mouth, throat, or neck.
• A change in voice.

Tests that examine the mouth and throat are used to help detect (find), diagnose, and stage oropharyngeal cancer.

The following tests and procedures may be used:   

• Physical exam and history : An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as swollen lymph nodes in the neck or anything else that seems unusual. The medical doctor or dentist does a complete exam of the mouth and neck and looks down the throat with a small, long-handled mirror to check for abnormal areas. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
• CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
• PET scan (positron emission tomography scan): A procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radionuclide glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do.
• Biopsy : The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. A core needle biopsy is usually done to remove tissue using a wide needle.  

The following procedures may be used to remove samples of cells or tissue:

          i)Endoscopy : A procedure to look at organs and tissues inside the body to check for abnormal areas. An endoscope is inserted through an incision (cut) in the skin or opening in the body, such as the mouth or nose. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove abnormal tissue or lymph node samples, which are checked under a microscope for signs of disease. The nose, throat, back of the tongue, esophagus, stomach, voice box, windpipe, and large airways will be checked.

         ii)Laryngoscopy : A procedure in which the doctor checks the larynx (voice box) with a mirror or with a laryngoscope. A laryngoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing.

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on the following:   

• The stage and grade of the cancer.
• Where the tumor is in the body.
• Whether the tumor is associated with HPV infection.

Treatment options depend on the following:  

• The stage and grade of the cancer.
• Where the tumor is in the body.
• Keeping the patient's ability to speak and swallow as normal as possible.
• The patient's general health.

Material from National Cancer Institute

Our medical office specializes in the treatment and care of patients with neoplastic diseases. Our goal is to offer high quality medical services, providing the most advanced treatments and care to our patients who often face complex diagnostic and therapeutic problems.

Usually, after initial diagnosis, a series of diagnostic tests is required to assess the stage of the disease. Molecular tests may be needed as well that will help in determining the type of treatment to be followed.

The oncologist will evaluate the condition of the patient, the stage and the molecular-biological markers to prescribe the most effective treatment. Individualization of treatment is the basis for successful management of the disease with the best possible results. During treatment, close follow-up is required to evaluate outcomes and manage any side effects that may appear.

After completing treatment, long-term follow-up is required because of the risk of relapse of the disease and to assess possible late complications. Our team will follow the patient at regular intervals and perform the necessary tests for each case.

• “EGFR targeted therapies”, discussant of abstracts at the “Best of 18 th IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) 2017”, February 23, 2018; held in Athens, Greece, February 23-24, 2018.
• Prof. Argiris gave invited lectures entitled “Personalizing treatment in locally advanced SCCHN” and “Continuum of care in recurrent/ metastatic SCCHN”, in Dubai, UAE, on February 16, 2018.
• Moderator, lecture entitled “Significance of immune signatures in classification and treatment of cancer” [in Greek], December 14, 2017. “Annual Meeting on Cancer Biology and New Molecules in Cancer Therapeutics”, Athens, Greece, December 14-17, 2017
• Invited speaker “Cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted therapy in nasopharynx cancer”, lecture on November 4, 2017 at the 6 th THNO (Trends in Head and Neck Oncology), Nice, France, November 2-4, 2017
• Invited lecture “What is the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent SCCHN ?” Session: “Thyroid and Head and Neck Cancer”, on October 29, 2017, at the 3 rd Cyprus Oncology Conference organized by the Cyprus Oncology Society held in Limassol, Cyprus, October 27-29, 2017
• Prof. Argiris was a moderator at the 4th IMPACT meeting on head and neck cancer (attendees were about 100 oncologists from the Middle East and Asian countries;
  supported by Merck Serono) that was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 12, 2017. Also, he gave lectures entitled “Personalizing treatment in locally advanced head and neck cancer: introducing the grey zone”, “Continuum of care in recurrent or metastatic SCCHN”, and “A case for multidisciplinary board discussion”
• Prof. Argiris was the discussant for the head and neck cancer abstracts, at the Best of ASCO 2017 Annual Meeting event in Greece, Athens, September 30, 2017
• Co-chair (with Prof. Chih-Yen Chien) and speaker, in Masterclass in Head & Neck Cancer, organized by prIME Oncology, held in Taipei, Taiwan, July 22, 2017. Prof. Argiris was the keynote speaker. His talk was on “State-of- the-art management of head and neck cancer in 2017: current guidelines and unanswered questions”. Also, he gave a lecture entitled “Emerging postoperative treatment strategies”.
• Course Director (with Prof. K. Harrington) and speaker, MasterClass “Advance Course in Head and Neck Cancer Management” a joint educational event by The Institute of Cancer Research, UK, and the Hellenic Society of Head and Neck Oncology with participation
  of 8 oncologists (clinical, radiation, medical oncologists) from countries of the Middle East, held at Hygeia Hospital, Athens, July 10-11, 2017.
• Session co-chair (with Prof. Georgoulias), “EGFR TKIs of 1st and 2nd generation: the landscape beyond them” [in Greek], session held on July 7, 2017 in a Conference organized by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology entitled “Challenges in Modern Oncology: Diagnosis, Biomarkers, Therapy”, Kalamata, Greece, July 7-8, 2017
• Oral presentation of E1305 phase III trial (Head and Neck oral session, Abstract 6000) at the annual meeting of ASCO, Chicago, USA, June 5, 2017
• Scientific committee member, 2016 Yearly Update of Advances in Medical Oncology, May 5-6, 2017, Athens, Greece, and co-chair of session entitled "Head and Neck Cancers" on May 5, 2017
• Prof. Argiris gave an educational lecture entitled “One size does not fit all: the need to optimize treatment in LA SCCHN subpopulations” in the PRECISION Masterclass meeting for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) 2017, a 2-day educational event for junior oncologists from various countries entitled “Evidence-based medicine: The continuum of care in head and neck cancer patients”. Amsterdam,
  Netherlands, April 28-29, 2017
• Prof. Argiris was Symposium co-chair (with N. Karachaliou, and honorary co-chairs V. Georgoulias, R. Rosell) of the 4th Symposium on Thoracic and Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies” (an international conference with the scientific collaboration of the Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, USA and the Institut Catala d’Oncologia, Spain), that took place in Athens, Greece April 6-9, 2017. Prof. Argiris gave a lecture “Combined modality strategies in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer” in a Round Table on “Approaches to HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer” and a Keynote Lecture “Advances in immunotherapy for head and neck cancer” on April 4 th , 2017.
• Symposium Chair and Speaker in a Satellite Symposium “Emerging Trends in Immuno- Oncology Research for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck” held on March 16, 2017, in the 6th International Conference on Innovative Approaches in Head and Neck Oncology (ICHNO), Barcelona, Spain, March 16-18 th . Prof. Argiris’s lecture was entitled “Establishing immune-oncology in SCCHN”.
• “EGFR targeted therapies” Expert Commentary, in a review session held on March 3, 2017, in Best of 17 th IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer 2016”. Athens, March 3-4, 2017
• Prof. Argiris was co-chair of a Round Table session entitled “Non-small cell lung cancer” [in Greek], took place on February 3, 2017; in Conference “A new dimension on the management of cancer”, Athens, Greece, February 3-4, 2017
• “Immunotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck”. Invited lecture on December 17, 2016 in the “2 nd Symposium on Advances in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy”, Athens, Greece, December 15-17, 2016
• Prof. Argiris chaired along with Chinese Professor T. Lin a Symposium on “Expert Practice in Head and Neck Cancer” that was in official program of The 5th Guangzhou International Symposium in Oncology and The 1st Annual Symposium of the Chinese Association of Targeted Therapy in Oncology organized by prIME Oncology
  (www.prIMEoncology.org). Guangzhou, China, December 3, 2016. In the context of this Symposium Prοf. Argiris gave a Keynote Lecture entitled “Immunotherapy: emerging treatment strategy for head and neck cancer”.
• Prof. Argiris gave a lecture “Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer. An ideal model for expanding therapeutic indications”, in session entitled “Head and Neck Cancer” [in Greek]; in 4 th Oncology meeting “Multidisciplinary Care Discussions in Oncology”; Athens, Greece, November 5, 2016
• Chaired the Debate session on statement : “This house believes that HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer is highly chemosensitive and therefore surgery is not the primary choice of treatment” on November 3, 2016 and was Co-Chair on Free Papers session on November 4, 2016. Also Prof. Argiris gave an invited lecture on the topic “Future Directions in Induction Chemotherapy” in the “International Symposium on HPV infection in Head and Neck Cancer”, organized by the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS); Leipzig, Germany, November 3-4, 2016
• Satellite Symposium co-chair. “Cancer immunotherapy: is it the most important development in the past decade?”. October 1, 2016. Session in conference entitled [in Greek]. “Towards the optimal therapeutic index in oncology”, Athens, Greece, September 30-October 2, 2016.
• Session co-chair. “Head and Neck Cancer”, September 23, 2016. “Best of ASCO 2016. Event in Greece” a program licensed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, September 23-24, 2016. Athens, Greece
• Symposium Chair and Speaker, Satellite Symposium sponsored by BMS during the AHNS 9th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer, entitled “Immuno- Oncology: New Research Achievement in SCCHN”, Seattle, Washington, USA, July 19, 2016
• Scientific Committee member, 21st Hellenic Conference on Clinical Oncology, organized by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology, Athens, April 23-25, 2015
• International Symposium Chair (with Prof. K. Syrigos and V. Georgoulias) sponsored by the Hellenic Oncology Research Group and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; "3rd International Symposium on Thoracic and Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies", February 5-7, 2015, Athens, Greece
• Scientific session chair, "Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Metastatic". In "Best of ASCO 2014", conference organized by the Hellenic Oncology Research Group, Eretria, September 19-20, 2015
• "Lung Cancer: Therapeutic Algorithm 2014", invited lecture October 12, 2014, in conference "Cancer patient in daily practice", organized by 3rd Athens Medical School, Porto Heli, October 12, 2014
• Scientific session co-chair "Lung cancer multidisciplinary management- oligometastatic lung cancer with curative intention" Athens, Greece, June 20, 2014. Fifth Seminar of Clinical and Research Oncology organized by the Greek Foundation for Cancer Research, Athens, Greece, June 19-21, 2014
• Co-chair of scientific session on head and neck cancer, educational lectures for the Greek Academy of Oncology, sponsored by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)/ 4th series of lectures, “Neoplasms of chest and mediastinum, and head and neck”. Athens, Greece, May 23rd, 2014
• Scientific session chair "Targeted therapies II (ALK-ROS inhibitors) ", Athens, Greece, February 28-March 1, 2014. Best of World Conference on Lung Cancer, Greece 2014
• "Systemic therapy for head and neck cancer: role of targeted therapy" [in Greek], part of educational lectures for the Greek Academy of Oncology, sponsored by the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)/ 4th series of lectures, “Neoplasms of chest and mediastinum, and head and neck”. Athens, Greece, May 23rd, 2014
• "Research Achievements and Future Goals", Invited lecture at the EORTC, Head and Neck Cancer Group meeting, Milano, Italy, February 24th, 2014