HPV and Cancer: Why Prevention Still Matters – The Babak Lab
The Babak Lab shared a post on LinkedIn about recent paper by Julie R. Barzilay et al., published in NEJM.
“HPV and Cancer — Why Prevention Still Matters
A perspective piece in The New England Journal of Medicine (July 2025) underscores the persistent global impact of high-risk HPV strains (notably types 16 and 18) — linked to cancers of the cervix, anus, oropharynx, vulva, vagina, penis — despite existing preventive tools.
Study Focus:
Review current evidence on HPV’s role in oncogenesis and outline gaps in global prevention—specifically vaccination and screening.
Key Insights:
- HPV is the most common STI globally; persistent infection with high‑risk types causes ~90% of cervical cancers and a majority of other HPV-related tumors
- Vaccines like Gardasil 9 offer nearly 100% protection if administered before exposure — but coverage remains suboptimal in many low-resource areas
- Emerging evidence supports single-dose vaccination strategies, which could simplify scheduling and improve vaccine uptake globally
- Policy and equity issues still limit access; closing these gaps is essential to reduce HPV-related cancer burden
Conclusion:
HPV-associated cancers remain highly preventable. Translating vaccine efficacy into real-world impact requires broadening coverage, simplifying dosing regimens, and ensuring equitable global access.”
Video attached to the post.
Title: Human Papillomavirus and Cancer
Authors: Julie R. Barzilay, Sarah Feldman, Alison E. Burke, Emily Ling, Scott Williams, and Caren G. Solomon
Read The Full Article at NEJM.
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