Good news in cervical cancer prevention. Even one single dose of vaccine against papilloma virus (HPV) can be important, especially when access to vaccinations and boosters is difficult.

cancer of the cervix (or cervix) it is the most common form of cancer among women worldwide, but the situation has changed a lot in recent years. According to data published Eirck Foundation this neoplasm ranks fifth among the most common female cancers (in the first place is breast cancer) and accounts for 4.6% of all cancers diagnosed in women. One of the main risk factors for developing cervical cancer is infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is mainly transmitted sexually. That is why some measures that limit the chance of infection, such as condoms and vaccine, protect against this type of cancer. But be careful: a condom does not completely protect against infection, as the virus can also be transmitted through contact with skin areas not covered by a condom. Early onset of sexual activity and multiple sexual partners can increase the risk of infection.

If in Italy about 2400 new cases are registered annually, but the survival rate 5 years after diagnosis is 68%, then in the world, cervical cancer every two minutes is the cause of death of a woman, especially in those places where it papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine it is inaccessible (only 15% of women are vaccinated). Most of the deaths we are talking about occur in Africa, the country where 80% of cervical cancer cases are reported.

The study Kenya Institute of Medical Research analyzed the impact of a single dose of HPV vaccine on 2,275 sexually active women aged 15 to 20 in the country. The women, divided into three groups, received vaccination treatment. The primary group received the meningococcal vaccine, the second – bivalent, covering 16/18 HPV strains, which is 70% of cases, the third – the vaccine, covering 9 HPV strains, which is 90% of cases. Researchers after 18 months analyzed the level of protection in the three groups. The HPV 16/18 strains, the bivalent vaccine and the 9-strain vaccine were 97.5% effective. It should be emphasized that 89% of the latter can also protect against other strains. “These results represent a breakthrough in the fight against HPV-associated cervical cancer and demonstrate that a single HPV vaccination is a valuable and affordable public health intervention.“ commented Sam KariukiActing Director General of the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

HPV, prevention and vaccine

“In the Western world, the number of cases and deaths continues to decline, mainly due to Pap smear from the cervix and subsequent introduction papillomavirus DNA testtwo very effective tests for early diagnosis,” he says. Sandro Piñataoncologist and researcher Erik Foundation. An effective weapon against papillomavirus is vaccine is able to retain the two most common types of HPV responsible for the majority of cervical cancers (HPV16 and HPV18), as well as other, less frequent ones. “In Italy the vaccine is recommended and offered free of charge to girls (since 2007) and boys (since 2018) at age twelve. before they become sexually active and at risk of infection. In recent years, some regions have expanded the offer to other age groups, ”continues the oncologist. Men also benefit from vaccination because they are protected from warts anogenital and some infectious cancers such as those of the penis, anus, and base of the tongue. It is worth mentioning that not all precancerous papillomavirus lesions lead to tumor development. In many cases they regress spontaneously and without any treatment. Prevention of the formation of such lesions or their early diagnosis and treatment can certainly reduce and virtually eliminate the occurrence of cervical cancer.