Officially, the HPV vaccine doesn't prevent head and neck cancer. But it probably does
The Merck vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, Gardasil, has been a roaring public health success; researchers believe the disease could be eradicated in some countries within 20 years.
A new study published in JAMA shows that the vaccine also seems to prevent infections of the human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer, in the throat. That's important because there are 13,500 cases annually of cancer of the throat and mouth caused by HPV.
One of the study's authors, Maura Gillison, was among the first to notice that cases of HPV-caused head and neck cancer were rising, and says she tried to get Merck to run studies of oral transmission of the virus. Experts say the new data indicate that giving the vaccine more broadly could prevent cases of head and neck cancer in the future. But, STAT's Matt Herper tells us, there's a lot standing in the way of that happening.
Read more.
A new study published in JAMA shows that the vaccine also seems to prevent infections of the human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer, in the throat. That's important because there are 13,500 cases annually of cancer of the throat and mouth caused by HPV.
One of the study's authors, Maura Gillison, was among the first to notice that cases of HPV-caused head and neck cancer were rising, and says she tried to get Merck to run studies of oral transmission of the virus. Experts say the new data indicate that giving the vaccine more broadly could prevent cases of head and neck cancer in the future. But, STAT's Matt Herper tells us, there's a lot standing in the way of that happening.
Read more.
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