UNITED STATES – Vaccination against papillomaviruses (HPV) is an effective way to prevent infection and cancers commonly induced by these viruses, including cervical cancer and head and neck cancers, confirms a new study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The analysis notably revealed that men who received the HPV vaccine had a 56% reduced risk of head and neck cancer.
“We have known for a long time that the HPV vaccine can prevent the development of HPV infection, yes, but especially cancer,” primarily cervical cancer, said Dr. Lynn Schuchter, MD. , Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, session moderator and ASCO president. “This is a very important study that expands information on the impact [de ce virus]. »
Using the U.S. TriNetX database, principal investigator Jefferson DeKloe, BS, a research scientist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and colleagues created a matched cohort of 760,540 HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated men and 945 999 women vaccinated and not vaccinated against HPV.
Men vaccinated against HPV had a 54% lower risk for all HPV-related cancers (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; p
Women vaccinated against HPV had a 27% lower risk for all HPV-related cancers (OR, 0.73; p
However, vaccinated women were less likely than unvaccinated women to develop high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (OR, 0.44), cervical carcinoma in situ (OR, 0.42), abnormal Pap test results ( OR, 0.87), and were less likely to undergo cone biopsy and loop electrosurgical excision (OR, 0.45).
“This study highlights the importance of getting vaccinated against papillomaviruses,” Lynn Schuchter said at the briefing.
“Hapillomavirus vaccination helps prevent cancer,” Glenn Hanna of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston said in an ASCO news release.
Yet HPV vaccination rates remain relatively low in the United States. According to the United States National Cancer Institute, in 2022, only 58% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 had received two or three doses of HPV vaccine, as recommended.
In France, vaccination coverage in 2022 was 47.8% for one dose in girls aged 15, 41.5% for the full schedule in girls aged 16. For boys, these rates were 12.8% and 8.5%, respectively.
“Identifying effective interventions to increase HPV vaccination rates is critical to reducing the excessive burden of cancer in the United States,” Jefferson DeKloe said in a statement.
Jefferson DeKloe has not disclosed any links of interest related to the subject. Glenn Hanna has disclosed relationships with Bicara Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Coherus BioSciences and others. Lynn Schuchter has not disclosed financial information in connection with the subject.
This article was translated from Medscape.com using several editorial tools, including AI, in the process. The content was reviewed by the editorial staff before publication.
