Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025
08:16
Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach
Published on: November 5, 2019
6.8K
Cancers attributable to infectious agents in Italy
Giulia Collatuzzo1, Carlo La Vecchia2, Fabio Parazzini3
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|February 21, 2023
Summary
Infections caused 7.6% of cancer deaths and 6.9% of new cancer cases in Italy. Helicobacter pylori was the leading cause, highlighting the need for prevention and screening strategies for these avoidable cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Cancer remains a significant public health challenge globally.
- A substantial proportion of cancers are linked to infectious agents.
- Understanding the burden of infection-related cancers is crucial for targeted prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the burden of cancer deaths and incidence attributable to specific infectious agents in Italy.
- To identify the primary infectious causes of cancer in the Italian population.
- To inform public health policy for cancer prevention and control.
Main Methods:
- Calculated attributable fractions for cancers linked to Helicobacter pylori, HBV, HCV, HPV, HHV8, EBV, and HIV.
- Utilized prevalence data from Italian population surveys and relative risks from meta-analyses.
- Estimated cancer incidence (2020) and mortality (2017) attributed to these infections.
Main Results:
- Infections accounted for 7.6% of cancer deaths and 6.9% of incident cases in Italy.
- Helicobacter pylori was the leading cause, responsible for 3.3% of cancer deaths and 2.4% of incident cases.
- Hepatitis C virus, HIV, and HPV also contributed significantly to infection-related cancer burden.
Conclusions:
- The proportion of infection-related cancers in Italy exceeds that in other developed nations.
- Helicobacter pylori is the primary driver of infection-related cancers in Italy.
- Implementing robust prevention, screening, and treatment policies is essential to reduce the burden of these largely preventable cancers.
More Related Videos
09:01Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Mouse Mammary Tumors as Tools for Molecular and Computational Studies
Published on: July 3, 2025
185
08:02Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles
Published on: May 14, 2021
5.8K
Related Concept Videos
02:59Cancer Prevention
6.2K
Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Some...
6.2K
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
5.3K
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
5.3K
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
12.4K
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
12.4K
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
5.2K
Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
5.2K
02:18Cancer
49.0K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
49.0K
01:30Cancer Vaccines
469
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
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...
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...
469