Cancers attributable to human papillomavirus infection

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is causally linked to multiple cancers, not just cervical cancer.
• HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers.
• While Pap smear programs reduced cervical cancer, HPV-related cancers are increasing in Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review epidemiological evidence on HPV's role in various human cancers.
• To describe Australian trends in HPV-related cancers.
• To assess the potential impact of HPV vaccination on cancer prevention beyond cervical cancer.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological data on HPV and cancer incidence in Australia.
• Analysis of HPV prevalence in different cancer types (cervical, vulval, vaginal, penile, anal, oral).
• Examination of trends in HPV-related and unrelated cancers over the past 20 years.

Main Results:

• HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer; vaccination significantly reduces incidence.
• HPV is detected in 40-70% of vulval, vaginal, penile, and anal cancers, with rising anal cancer incidence.
• HPV-positive oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancers are increasing, while HPV-unrelated oral cancers decrease.

Conclusions:

• HPV vaccination offers substantial potential to prevent thousands of cancer cases annually, including non-cervical cancers.
• A significant proportion of potentially preventable HPV-related cancers occur in men, who are not currently targeted by Australia's national HPV immunisation program.
• Expanding HPV vaccination strategies could further reduce the burden of HPV-driven cancers across the population.