Human papillomavirus, or HPV, the leading cause of cervical
cancer in women, appears to be a major cause of oral cancer in men, a new study
reported.
The rise in cancers of the mouth and upper throat may be the
result of an increase in oral sex and a decrease in smoking. HPV is now causing
as many oral cancers as tobacco and alcohol.
The new study analyzed more than 30 years of National Cancer
Institute data on oral cancers. Researchers looked at about 46,000 cases,
dividing them into oral cancers caused by HPV and oral cancers not connected to
the virus.
Their conclusion was that the incidence rates for
HPV-related oral cancers rose steadily in men between 1973 and 2004, becoming
about as common as those from tobacco and alcohol. Researchers also revealed
that survival rates for the cancer are also increasing and that is because
tumors caused by HPV respond better to chemotherapy and radiation, said
co-author of the study Dr. Maura Gillison of
“If current trends continue, within the next 10 years there
may be more oral cancers in the
In an effort to decrease the rates of cancer, Merck &
Co. Inc., the manufacturer of Gardasil, the only vaccine against HPV is seeking
to ask government permission to offer the shot to boys this year. Currently,
the shot is targeted at girls and young women.
Annually, nearly 12,000 American women are diagnosed with
cervical cancer. About 3,670 deaths were reported in the
“We need to start having a discussion about those cancers
other than cervical cancer that may be affected in a positive way by the
vaccine,” Dr. Gillison said.
However, no data of how successful the vaccine would be in
men are available yet. Therefore, government officials and the American Cancer
Society cannot pronounce yet in this matter and say more study is needed.
The study was published in the Friday’s issue of the Journal of clinical Oncology.