DT News - UK - Research indicates HPV may be responsible for increase in head and neck cancer

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 1 November 2016

save

DERBY, UK: A study conducted by University of Derby researchers has confirmed previous findings of a link between certain lifestyle choices and a higher risk of developing head and neck cancer from human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The results of a questionnaire and mouth swab from 120 British adults between the ages of 18 and 24 showed that those who smoked, for example, were more likely to contract the disease.

The study is the first in the UK to look at the rates of the common oral infection in healthy young adults. It found that one in 25 had a detectable oral HPV infection and the majority of these were smokers.

Transmitted through human contact, high-risk strains of HPV can lead to a variety of cancers, including cervical cancer in women, as well as head and neck cancers in both sexes.

Up to 2,500 people die in the UK from head and neck cancer each year, and head and neck clinics in the UK have seen steadily increasing numbers of patients with HPV-associated cancers in recent years, according to the university’s Head of Biomedical Science and Public Health Dr Gillian Knight, particularly in white males under the age of 40.

“HPV is a very common infection, with around 80% of adults being exposed to a genital HPV infection by their mid-twenties,” she explained. “We already know that this high infection rate influences the likelihood of women developing cervical cancer, but what we don’t know is how many people who have an oral HPV infection go on to develop HPV head and neck cancer.”

The researchers are now planning to collaborate with the Royal Derby Hospital to investigate the rates of HPV infection in patients to determine the prevalence of oral HPV infection in a wider age range for future prevention.

“In the UK, we only vaccinate 12–13-year-old girls with the HPV jab to prevent them from picking up the high-risk strains of HPV when they become sexually active, which hopefully will prevent in girls all HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer. However, we do not vaccinate boys even though they have the same risk of contracting HPV infection as women and a recently identified risk—higher than in women—of head and neck cancer,” Knight said.

To post a reply please login or register

UK researchers identify bacteria capable of destroying head and neck cancer

LONDON, England: Treatment of head and neck cancer is notoriously complex, and only few advances have been made in the last 20 years. Last month, however, ...

Head and neck cancer: Audit suggests lack of optimal patient care

LONDON – Only 3 in 100 head and neck cancer patients in England receive the ideal standard of care, according to the National Head and Neck ...

Research indicates mouthwash may impede benefits of exercise

PLYMOUTH, UK: The systemic health benefits of regular exercise are myriad and well documented, and much the same could be said about the use of mouthwash. ...

New HPV test may improve oral cancer treatment

LIVERPOOL – Owing to the absence of a uniform testing standard within the NHS, researchers have analysed a new test developed to classify ...

European CanCer Organisation resolves to target HPV-related cancers

BRUSSELS, Belgium/RUGBY, UK: At the recent 2019 European Cancer Summit of the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO), the ECCO Oncopolicy Committee agreed on a...

3-D digital head and neck to revolutionise dental training

GLASGOW – Researchers from Scotland have presented the world’s first anatomically accurate interactive 3-D head and neck learning resource, ...

BDHF calls for HPV vaccination in boys to fight oral cancer

RUGBY – Although the number of cancers linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) has increased in recent years, especially among men, HPV vaccination ...

Study indicates 16% of UK dental professionals may have had COVID-19

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Across the UK, local lockdowns are proliferating as SARS-CoV-2 case numbers continue to increase. Though the initial nationwide lockdown ...

Saliva may indicate susceptibility to depression in boys

CAMBRIDGE – For the first time, researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified a biomarker for major or clinical depression in human ...

Alarming increase in oral cancer rates in the UK

RUGBY, UK: In marking World Cancer Day, the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has highlighted the constantly increasing rates of oral cancer in the ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 16 December 2024
6:00 pm UTC (London)