Rollo F, Pichi B, Benevolo M, et al. - Given the possible utility of testing for oral high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA for identifying individuals at increased risk for HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and the possible utility of identifying high-risk HPV E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the identification of clinically significant infections, researchers tested oral rinses with a mouthwash from cancer-free individuals at increased risk for oral HPV infection, for HPV DNA and mRNA using the Linear Array HPV genotyping test and the Aptima HPV assay, respectively. In this study, they included 310 patients with no clinical evidence of lesions of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Findings suggest that in oral rinses of cancer-free patients, HPV mRNA is detectable. Oral HPV mRNA testing could possibly identify active and transforming oral infections indicating its usefulness in the screening and/or early detection of HPV-driven OPC. For individuals at increased risk for HPV-related OPC, testing via simply and noninvasively collected oral specimens seems to be an attractive option for future screening strategies.