Throat cancer is a form of head and neck cancer. It starts in the throat (known as the pharynx), which includes the tonsils, back of the tongue, voice box (larynx), and the vocal cords.
Some of these areas can be seen when the mouth is wide open and others only by a camera passed through the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancer, involving the tonsils or back of the tongue, is commonly referred to as throat cancer.
The head and neck service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) was founded in 1914, making it one of the first in the United States to specialize in the treatment of head and neck cancers.
Ever since, MSK experts have pioneered innovative ways to treat throat cancer that aim to give people better outcomes while preserving their appearance and the functions of the throat.
“We’re curing more patients so they live longer and better,” says medical oncologist Alan Ho, MD, Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service. “How our patients live after treatment is a very close second to curing them in our priorities. It’s just so important.”
Causes of Throat Cancer
Cancer of the throat is often linked to:
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- HPV infection
HPV is the human papilloma virus, a very common sexual infection that is usually cleared by the body but can linger in some people for years or even decades and cause abnormal cell changes that can lead to cancer.
Cases of throat cancer linked to HPV are on the rise, especially among men. However, the throat cancers associated with HPV often respond well to treatment, so MSK has been pioneering ways to treat this cancer more effectively with less invasive and intensive treatments while maintaining similar cure rates.
Knowing the HPV status of a throat cancer diagnosis can be very important for getting the appropriate treatment and understanding prognosis.
Standard Treatments for Throat Cancer
The treatment for throat cancer can depend on several factors such as the stage, which includes the size of the tumor, the location of the tumor, and if the cancer has spread (metastasized).
Another important consideration for determining the best therapy for throat cancer is whether the tumor is linked to HPV infection.
The most common ways to treat throat cancer include:
- Surgery to remove the cancer.
- Radiation therapy, which uses high-intensity rays to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to destroy the cancer cells.
These therapies may be given alone or in combinations to remove or eradicate tumors entirely and to reduce the chance that cancer will come back after treatment.
Latest Treatments for Throat Cancer Offered at MSK
Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
MSK is an innovator and uses the newest approaches to treating throat cancer and other head and neck cancers.
These novel treatments can include:
- Immunotherapy, which uses the body’s own immune system to help identify and destroy cancer cells.
- Targeted therapies, which attack genetic changes in tumors.
In June 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of an immunotherapy drug for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, thanks to a clinical trial designed and co-led by MSK’s Nancy Lee, MD, Service Chief of Head and Neck Radiology.
The drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) is given before and after surgery. “It’s very exciting to see a significant improvement in survival and also less toxic follow-up treatments after surgery,” says Dr. Lee. “Now some patients should be able to avoid chemotherapy, because this kind of immunotherapy shrinks the tumor before removal and keeps the cancer from returning.”
Learn how immunotherapy helped an MSK head and neck patient avoid major surgery (link to come when article is published)
Neoadjuvant Approach to Throat Cancer
Treatments given before surgery are called neoadjuvant therapy. MSK has helped pioneer this approach, using chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy for head and neck cancer, thanks to MSK’s leadership in research and clinical trials, which investigate new methods of treatment.
“When some people come here for treatment, they are not aware of the neoadjuvant approach, and sometimes their doctors aren’t either,” says head and neck surgeon Richard Wong, MD, Chief of the Head and Neck Service. “This method is particularly attractive to me as a surgeon because radiation before surgery can make tissues rigid. Our neoadjuvant approach using immunotherapy and targeted therapies doesn’t harm the tissue, so surgery and recovery are easier.”
Reducing Radiation Doses for HPV Throat Cancer With De-escalation Approach
When radiation is appropriate for throat cancer, MSK has been a leader in developing treatments that use significantly lower doses, causing fewer side effects while maintaining similar cure rates.
For head and neck cancers linked to HPV infection, Dr. Nancy Lee developed a clinical trial that cut the amount of radiation used nearly in half, finding that lowering the dose has proved safe and effective, with less throat pain, fatigue, and other side effects.
“This has been an absolute game-changer for treating people with these cancers,” says Dr. Lee. “The difference in toxicity is dramatic.”
Dr. Lee has expanded her research to help people with HPV-associated throat cancers who were not initially eligible for the lower dosage regimen. She found that tailoring the amount and timing of radiation allowed for treatment that reduced side effects while delivering care that was just as effective.
Dr. Lee’s research has even shown that the lower dose radiation regimen allows some throat cancer patients to avoid surgery altogether, thanks in part to a specialized imaging technique that allowed researchers to determine which patients would respond well to the reduced treatment without needing surgery first.
“We are challenging the traditional dogma of using a one-size-fits-all approach to treat cancer and changing it to a more personalized treatment,” Dr. Lee says. “This latest advance takes it even further, allowing most patients to avoid the risks that come with surgery — like bleeding, infection, and longer hospitalization.”
Types of Throat Cancer
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Oropharyngeal cancer occurs in the middle portion of the throat (pharynx), beginning at the back of the mouth, and includes the tonsils and back of tongue.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 70% of oropharyngeal cancer is associated with HPV infection.
- Oropharyngeal cancer is the most common form of throat cancer in the U.S.
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Tonsil cancer can form in any of the three types of tonsils, which are small pads of tissue that are part of the immune system and trap germs that enter through the mouth and nose.
- Tonsil cancer most often occurs on the tonsils on the side of the throat.
- The most common cause of tonsil cancer in the U.S. is HPV infection.
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Laryngeal cancer occurs in the voice box (larynx), which sits on top of the windpipe (trachea).
- The voice box contains the vocal cords, which are two bands of muscle that vibrate when air passes through to make speech.
- The larynx also contains the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that prevents food from entering the lungs.
- Laryngeal cancer is the second most common form of throat cancer in the U.S.
- Hypopharyngeal cancer occurs in the portion of the throat between the pharynx and larynx, where the voice box, back of the tongue, and mouth meet.
Learn more about the types of throat cancer
Symptoms of Throat Cancer
- Sore throat or discomfort in the throat that doesn’t go away is a common symptom of throat cancer.
- Voice changes including hoarseness or decreased volume.
- Trouble swallowing including pain and the feeling that food is stuck in the throat.
- Lump in the neck caused by an enlarged lymph node that doesn’t go away.
- Unexplained weight loss.
Learn more about the symptoms of throat cancer
Highlights
- Overview and Causes: Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that can affect the tonsils, tongue, voice box, and vocal cords, with oropharyngeal cancer being the most common form in the U.S. Major risk factors for throat cancer include tobacco, alcohol, and HPV infection, with HPV-related cases rising but often responding well to treatment.
- Standard Treatments: Traditional treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, either alone or in combination depending on tumor stage, location, and HPV status. MSK emphasizes both curing the disease and preserving a patient’s function and appearance.
- Latest Advances at MSK: MSK has pioneered newer therapies such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and the neoadjuvant approach, which treats tumors before surgery. The FDA recently approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) for head and neck cancers, driven by MSK-led trials that showed improved survival while reducing toxic side effects.
- Innovations for HPV-Related Cancer: MSK has advanced a de-escalation strategy for some HPV-associated throat cancers that safely reduces radiation doses nearly in half. This has significantly lowered side effects, improved recovery, and in some cases allowed patients to avoid surgery altogether through personalized treatment plans.
Dr. Richard Wong holds the Jatin P. Shah Chair in Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology.
Reviewed by MSK Head and Neck Medical Oncologist Winston Wong, MD