Henry Ford + MSU researchers granted $3M from NIH to study HPV-positive head-and-neck cancers

A new diagnostic lens—and a lasting scientific legacy

In this week's episode of The Cancer Letter Podcast, editor and publisher Paul Goldberg, and associate editor Jacquelyn Cobb revisit two of last week’s most-read stories: the growing recognition that early-onset colorectal cancer requires a new diagnostic mindset, and the life and legacy of Maura Gillison, the scientist whose discovery that most head and neck cancers are driven by HPV transformed the field.

July 08, 2026

Vol.52 No.26

Obituary

Maura Gillison, who identified the role of HPV in head and neck cancer, changing the standard of care, dies at 61

Maura L. Gillison, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and molecular epidemiologist whose work changed the standard of care for head and neck cancer by distinguishing human papillomavirus-positive from HPV-negative disease and thereby guiding diagnosis, treatment and prevention, died on June 21.

Problem: Misinformation and stigma prevent uptake of HPV vaccines and screening. Solution: A comic book

In theory, cervical cancer could be almost entirely eliminated with prevention and screening efforts, thanks to a quirk of the disease’s histology: Virtually all cases are caused by high-risk human papillomavirus, for which there is both a vaccine and an effective screening test.

No need for a speculum? A new era of HPV screening

FDA has cleared the first at-home self-collection kit for HPV screening, removing significant obstacles to cervical cancer detection.

April 22, 2026

Clinical Roundup

Merck to present long-term data of Gardasil 9 and Gardasil at the EUROGIN international multidisciplinary HPV Congress

Clinical, real-world data reaffirming the long-term effectiveness of Gardasil 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) and Gardasil (Human Papillomavirus 4-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) against certain HPV-related cancers and diseases will be presented at the EUROGIN International Multidisciplinary HPV Congress 2026 in Vienna, Austria, March 18-21.

March 20, 2026

Vol.52 No.11

Clinical Roundup

Rybrevant Faspro + immunotherapy shows strong clinical benefit for recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck cancer

Data from the phase Ib/II OrigAMI-4 study found that first-line treatment with investigational subcutaneous amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor delivered clinically meaningful and durable antitumor activity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that is recurrent or metastatic, PD-L1-positive, and HPV-unrelated.

February 27, 2026

Vol.52 No.08

Henry Ford + MSU researchers granted $3M from NIH to study HPV-positive head-and-neck cancers

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

A new diagnostic lens—and a lasting scientific legacy

Maura Gillison, who identified the role of HPV in head and neck cancer, changing the standard of care, dies at 61

Problem: Misinformation and stigma prevent uptake of HPV vaccines and screening. Solution: A comic book

No need for a speculum? A new era of HPV screening

Merck to present long-term data of Gardasil 9 and Gardasil at the EUROGIN international multidisciplinary HPV Congress

Rybrevant Faspro + immunotherapy shows strong clinical benefit for recurrent or metastatic head-and-neck cancer

Renew today!

Subscriber content

Never miss an issue!

Login