Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization as a Tool for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
Published on: June 14, 2019
Reducing HPV-associated cancer globally
Douglas R Lowy1, John T Schiller
1Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. lowyd@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers are a major worldwide public health concern. Virtually all cervical cancer is HPV related, with 70% caused by HPV16 and -18. Variable proportions of certain noncervical cancers (e.g., anal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal) are HPV related; more than 90% of the HPV-related ones are caused by HPV16, -18. The HPV-related cancers are dominated by cervical cancer in the developing world, where cervical cancer screening is limited. In this setting, widespread uptake of current HPV vaccines by adolescent girls could reduce this cancer's incidence and mortality by approximately two-thirds, with cost-effective screening programs of adult women having the potential to reduce mortality more rapidly. In the industrialized world, some noncervical HPV-related cancers, especially oropharyngeal, are rapidly increasing, and now rival the incidence of cervical cancer, whose rates continue to decline thanks to established cervical screening programs. Therefore, reducing HPV-associated noncervical cancers with HPV vaccination has greater importance in the industrialized world, especially because there are no approved screening programs for these cancers. Preventing the substantial number of noncervical HPV cancers in men will require either "herd" immunity through high-vaccination rates in females or male vaccination. Current HPV vaccination can complement cervical screening in protecting against cervical cancer and may permit the safe reduction of screening intensity in industrialized countries. Second-generation HPV vaccines (active against a broader array of cervical cancer-related HPV types) could prevent an even higher proportion of cervical precancer and cancer and might permit further reductions in screening intensity.
Insights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can significantly reduce HPV-related cancers, especially cervical cancer in developing nations. In industrialized countries, HPV vaccines are crucial for preventing rising noncervical cancers like oropharyngeal cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes a significant global health burden, primarily cervical cancer, with HPV16 and -18 being the dominant oncogenic types.
- HPV-related cancers, including anal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, represent a growing concern, particularly in industrialized nations where screening is limited.
- Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality in developing countries with limited screening infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of HPV vaccination on reducing HPV-related cancer incidence and mortality globally.
- To assess the role of HPV vaccination in complementing existing cervical cancer screening programs.
- To highlight the importance of HPV vaccination for preventing noncervical HPV-related cancers in industrialized regions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of global cancer incidence and mortality data related to HPV.
- Review of the effectiveness of current HPV vaccines (targeting HPV16 and -18) in diverse healthcare settings.
- Examination of the potential impact of widespread HPV vaccination and second-generation vaccines on cancer prevention strategies.
Main Results:
- Widespread HPV vaccination in adolescent girls could decrease cervical cancer incidence and mortality by approximately two-thirds in developing countries.
- In industrialized nations, HPV vaccination is increasingly important for preventing noncervical HPV-related cancers, which are on the rise.
- Current HPV vaccines can enhance cervical cancer protection and potentially allow for reduced screening intensity in industrialized countries.
Conclusions:
- HPV vaccination is a highly effective strategy for primary prevention of HPV-related cancers, with significant public health implications worldwide.
- Vaccination strategies must consider both cervical and noncervical HPV-related cancers, adapting to regional disease burdens and healthcare capacities.
- Future HPV vaccines with broader type coverage may further improve cancer prevention and allow for more optimized screening protocols.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Cancer Prevention
Some...
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...