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About

Anna Starus is a leading clinical researcher in head and neck oncology, with a focused expertise in human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV+ OPC) and the integration of immunotherapy into curative treatment paradigms. Her major contributions center on pioneering neoadjuvant immunotherapy strategies, particularly the use of nivolumab and novel HPV16-specific arenavirus-based immunotherapies (HB-200) combined with chemotherapy. Starus has been instrumental in developing response-adaptive and de-escalation protocols, such as the TARGET-HPV trial, which aim to reduce treatment toxicity while maintaining excellent survival outcomes in HPV-driven cancers. Her work on circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPV-DNA) as a dynamic biomarker for treatment response has opened new avenues for non-invasive monitoring and personalized therapy. With her most-cited paper (2024) garnering 45 citations, Starus’s research is shaping the future of de-intensified, biomarker-guided care. Her notable achievements include leading trials that challenge traditional chemoradiation, offering patients the potential for less toxic, yet equally effective, treatment regimens. For students and researchers, Starus exemplifies the translational power of combining immunotherapy with precision oncology in viral-mediated cancers.