Biomarker Approach to Screening for the Early Detection of HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer (BASH OPC)

Investigators seek to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a combined HPV 16 DNA and host gene methylation oral biomarker panel to distinguish early Oropharyngeal Cancer (OPC) cases from controls among 100 early and 100 late disease pre-treatment OPC cases, and 200 controls matched by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and tobacco use collected from the Moffitt Cancer Center (Moffitt) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center (Pittsburgh).

Inclusion Criteria: Cases: * Aged at least 18 years * Newly diagnosed primary tumor, histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (stages I-IV) * Has not received treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy) within the previous four weeks * Provided written informed consent under Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) 17716 biomarker/biobanking study or is identified and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center * Aged at least 35 years * Have no previous diagnosis of HNC or HPV-related cancer * Fully understands study procedures * Voluntarily agrees to participate by giving written informed consent under Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) 17716 biomarker/biobanking study or is enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center Exclusion Criteria: * Not meeting all of the above inclusion criteria for either the case or control group