Impact of HPV vaccine on cervical cancer may be understated

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Because the prevalence of two high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) may be greater than previously estimated, vaccination may provide wider protection against invasive cervical cancer than was thought, UK researchers report in the November 15th issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Moreover, lead investigator Dr. Ned Powell told Reuters Health, "We think that the results... are likely to be representative of many populations in the developed world, and especially the UK."

"The main implication of the study," he added, "is that in such populations, vaccination against HPV 16 and 18 can potentially prevent around 80% of cervical cancers, rather than the 70% we had previously thought."

Dr. Powell of Cardiff University and colleagues came to this conclusion after employing high-risk HPV genotyping to examine 453 invasive cervical cancer specimens collected between 2000 and 2006.

The process yielded evaluable results in a total of 280 cases. HPV 16 or 18 or both were present, with or without other HPV types, in 230 (82.1%).

"In short," Dr. Powell concluded, "the vaccines that are currently licensed -- Cervarix and Gardasil -- which both prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18, will be even more effective than initially anticipated."

Int J Cancer 2009:125;2425-2427.

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