[Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: indication for HPV vaccination?]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Oncology

Context:

• Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare condition caused by HPV types 6 and 11, leading to benign papilloma growth in the respiratory tract.
• Aggressive RRP necessitates frequent surgeries, often resulting in lasting voice and breathing impairments.
• Current treatments like interferon alpha and cidofovir aim to reduce recurrence rates.

Purpose:

• To explore the potential therapeutic role of HPV vaccination in managing recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).
• To present initial case reports and serological findings of Gardasil vaccination in RRP patients.
• To propose a larger clinical trial to validate the efficacy of HPV vaccination as an adjuvant therapy for RRP.

Summary:

• The tetravalent HPV vaccine Gardasil targets HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, demonstrating safety and immunogenicity.
• While effective against new infections, Gardasil has no impact on pre-existing HPV infections or lesions.
• The hypothesis suggests HPV vaccination could prevent new papilloma development in RRP, acting as an adjuvant immunotherapy.

Impact:

• Case reports indicate potential benefits of Gardasil vaccination in RRP patients.
• The low-risk profile of this immunotherapy supports further investigation.
• A controlled multicentric trial is proposed to confirm the therapeutic hypothesis for HPV vaccination in RRP.