Researchers have developed a groundbreaking diagnostic tool to improve the detection and treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), a cancer often linked to the high-risk human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16). While HPV-positive OPSCC generally has better outcomes, a subset of cases with specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within HPV1 6 genes show a more aggressive disease course and poorer survival. Currently, detecting these high-risk SNPs requires invasive tissue biopsies. The new non-invasive approach uses saliva samples to detect active HPV16 and its associated high-risk SNPs. The study successfully identified both the virus and its risk SNPs in patients, marking a significant step toward personalised cancer care. This method could lead to more tailored treatments and better monitoring of patients with HPV-positive OPSCC, improving their prognosis and survival rates