HPV causes oral cancers in men, vaccine urged for boys

A study says human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes cervical cancer in women, also causes oral cancer in men. The researcher advises that boys be vaccinated to prevent oral cancer.

Dr. Maura Gillison of Johns Hopkins University and her team reviewed more than 30 years of National Cancer Institute data on oral cancers involving more than 46,000 cases. They found HPV, the sexually transmitted virus, is a major cause for oral cancers in men. HPV already affects women with cervical cancer. Gillison and her team found the rise in cancers of the mouth and upper throat is probably the result of an increase in oral sex. They found the incidence rates for HPV-related oral cancers rose steadily in men from 1973 to 2004, becoming as common as those caused by tobacco and alcohol. Gillison said to the Associated Press that the survival rates of such cancers are increasing because tumors caused by HPV respond better to chemotherapy and radiation. They recommend that boys use the Gardasil vaccine to prevent them from getting oral cancer, just like young women who use them to prevent cervical cancer. In another related study, the Penn State University scientists reported that smoking aggravates HPV and raises the risk of cervical cancer. Merck, makers of Gardasil, welcome the findings of this study and are trying to get government approval to sell the vaccine for boys and young men by 2009. Government officials and others wants them to do further research thoroughly before they sell Gardasil on the market. The American Cancer Society said they don’t know how Merck’s vaccine will be successful in preventing this disease for men. Debbie Saslow of American Cancer Society says since there are no studies whether the vaccine prevents HPV in men.