Racial disparities and human papillomavirus status in oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study used a meta-analysis to quantify the degree to which the racial disparity in overall survival for black versus white Americans with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) persists after adjusting for human papillomavirus (HPV) status. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHLA were searched through November 2017. The PRISMA statement was followed. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) was calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Five studies met the inclusion criteria and had suitable data for pooling into the meta-analysis (N = 1153). The pooled HR for overall survival in black versus white Americans with OPSCC after adjusting for HPV status was calculated to be 1.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.87-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: The difference in survival for black versus white Americans with OPSCC is not significant after adjusting for HPV status but still trends in the direction of a disparity. Additional studies are needed to better characterize this disparity.