More men ‘have oral cancer virus’
28 Jan BBC
Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is more common among men
than women, leading to an increased risk for men of head and neck
cancers, a US study suggests.
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study assessed
around 5,500 people aged 14 to 69. Around 10% of men had oral HPV,
compared with 3.6% of women.
HPV causes the majority of cervical cancers, as well as genital and
anal - and head and neck cancers.
Smoking and drinking are significant known risk factors for head and
neck cancers. But oral HPV infection increases cancer risk by around
50%, according to the research team from Ohio State University
Comprehensive Cancer Center. They say the incidence of head and neck
cancers has significantly increased over the last three decades, and HPV
has been directly implicated as an underlying cause. The researchers
used data from a cross-sectional study as part of the 2009-10 National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They all provided a skin cell
samples for testing from their mouths, and were interviewed about their
lifestyles and sexual history. Overall prevalence of oral HPV infection
was 7%.
Prevalence of HPV increased with lifetime or recent number of
partners for any kind of sex, vaginal sex, or oral sex. Writing in JAMA,
the team led by Dr Maura Gillison, said their findings should influence
research into the existing HPV vaccines and how effective they could be
in preventing oral cancers.
“Vaccine efficacy against oral HPV infection is unknown, and
therefore vaccination cannot currently be recommended for the primary
prevention of oropharyngeal cancer.
“Given an analysis of US cancer registry data recently projected that
the number of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers diagnosed each year
will surpass that of invasive cervical cancers by the year 2020, perhaps
such vaccine trials are warranted.”
Jessica Harris, health information manager at Cancer Research UK,
said: “As we learn how common HPV infections in the mouth are, and how
they are passed on, we can understand more about who is most at risk and
how people can reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers.
“Although there isn’t yet any evidence to show whether HPV
vaccination is effective at preventing oral HPV infections, results like
these are vital to help inform prevention programmes in the future.” |
