Charity calls for boys to get HPV jab

This article was written by Hartwig et al. of Sanofi Pasteur MSD, which is a company specialising in vaccines. (This potential conflict of interest was stated clearly in the article.) The study aimed to look into the burden of HPV-related disease in men in Europe, including genital warts and cancers of the anus, penis and head and neck cancers. The researchers used Eurostat population data, cancer incidence rates published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and prevalence estimates of HPV viruses 6, 11, 16 and 18. This modelling study reported that, every year, 72,694 new cancer cases develop in European men at HPV-related sites on the body (for example, the penis, anus, head and neck). They estimate that almost a quarter of these cancers (17,403) could be directly attributable to HPV, with 15,497 of them specifically caused by HPV 16 or 18. In addition, it was estimated that between 286,682 and 325,722 new cases of genital warts attributable to HPV 6 or 11 occur annually in European men. The study concluded that around 30% of all new cases of cancer caused by HPV 16 or 18 in Europe occur in men. Meanwhile, almost all non-cancerous HPV-related conditions in men (for example genital warts) are caused by HPV strains 6 and 11. The authors say that the HPV vaccine could potentially prevent these conditions. In her editorial, Professor Stanley continues that HPV vaccine trials have shown that the vaccine can protect against HPV infection and related anal and g...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer QA articles Source Type: news